How Technology Is Improving Client Care at Nursing Homes

Did you know that the global nursing shortage reached a stunning shortage of 5.7 million nurses?

The terrifying thing is that nurses are usually the first-line responders and initiators of client care in nursing homes. Thankfully, new nursing home technology is aiding nurses with regular activities.

It’s also reducing human mistakes and errors that may be caused by a lack of nurses working long hours with an excessive number of patients.

Keep on reading to learn all about tech-powered healthcare services. We’ll also cover the benefits of using them to the advantage of nurses and those in their care.   

Nursing Technology’s Advantages in Client Care

Both patients and healthcare professionals have benefited from technological improvements. Also, the introduction of new equipment doesn’t hurt.

Let’s explore these benefits one at a time.

Improved Accessibility

As a result of electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare information technology has been changed. A patient’s medical history is stored in an electronic health record.

A wide variety of things may be included. For instance, there are progress notes, providers, difficulties, prescriptions, and test results. Medical professionals may improve medical records by using electronic health records (EHRs). Also, it makes data more available to healthcare practitioners and patients.

Developments have greatly aided accessibility in telemedicine. Think about remote patient monitoring, live video conferencing, and mobile health applications. They have all been made possible because of advancements in telecommunications technology.

Because of today’s technological advancements, people in rural locations can get high-quality healthcare.

Reduction of Human Errors

Using new technologies, healthcare professionals can reduce the likelihood of human error. There is a more significant risk of making errors among nurses who work long shifts or in understaffed units.

Routine procedures have become easier to perform thanks to new medical technologies. Measuring the dosage of medication given to patients can be done automatically. The procedure of adjusting drip rates and the dose is streamlined.

Additionally, electronic health records (EHRs) reduce errors made at the bedside. EHRs may assist save time and money by eliminating the need for duplicate testing.

Telehealth and Availability

The U.S. nursing shortage has been exacerbated in part by nurse burnout. Anxiety and tiredness among nurses are two common reasons for their quitting.

It requires fewer nurses to deliver adequate care through telehealth. Therefore, new technologies may ease the pressure on nurses.

Nurses can use telehealth to reach areas where there is a shortage of health care professionals. Telemedicine can successfully provide treatment to patients in rural areas. Especially, in areas where there are not enough healthcare providers.

They reduce the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations. These advancements in telehealth technology may help to lower healthcare expenses. In addition, it’s a great way to take care of senior patients in their homes. 

You can discover more about aged care management here. 

Health Care Technology: Automated IV Pumps

Automated IV pumps control dosages and drips. Patients don’t have to wait for nurses to modify their drips and medicine dosages because of the use of medical technology.

Nutrition may be administered by IV pumps, which provide meals at predetermined intervals. Patients may also use self-pumps to raise their doses of pain medicine under strict monitoring.

Automated IV pumps speed up nursing procedures and might be vital if there is a need for fast correction. Automated drug changes also eliminate the possibility of human mistakes. It eliminates the risk to clinical patients and hospitals.

Nurses may spend more time on other aspects of their jobs thanks to automated IV kits. They can eliminate the need to measure and provide medications and meals.

Because various hospitals use different types of automated IV pumps, nurses’ education and training tend to focus on the facility where they work.

Portable Displays and Monitors

Nurses can monitor patients even while they’re on the go or assisting someone else. Portable monitors enable this. Portable monitors control devices like ECG and respiration rates and send back information to a central monitor. In an emergency, an alarm will alert the nurses.

Nurses often monitor the levels in most hospitals. With portable monitoring devices, nurses can keep track of and take note of vital statistics.

Using this, they can keep an eye on patients at all times from any location in the hospital. The portable monitor’s warnings and alarms might save lives.

Smart Beds

Nurses may use innovative bed technology to keep tabs on patients’ movements, weight, and even their vital signs if they so want.

The use of intelligent beds may help keep patients safe and comfortable when they are in the hospital for an extended period. Smart beds are essential for patient safety in hospitals, where falls and patient injuries are common.

Using smart beds, nurses can keep tabs on their patients’ actions from the comfort of their beds. As a result, they may uncover trends that might lead to new diagnoses or a better understanding of an illness.

Wearable Technology

Mobile and wearable technology is reshaping the medical business. People may take control of their health using devices. They can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, activity, sleep, and breathing.

As you’ve probably noticed, iPhones become more widely available. Thus, nurses will be able to use new applications that improve their ability to provide care.

To provide an example, the Steth IO app for smartphones is an app that nurses and physicians use. They use it to acquire breathing sounds and monitor heart rates.

Phones make it easier for patients to communicate with their doctors. It’s less frightening to use, particularly for younger or older patients.

Improving Client Experience and Care: The Medical Edition

In recent years, we’ve indeed come to terms with the importance of client care in healthcare institutions. In addition to the subsequent lack of enough nurses to fill in the gaps. 

We hope that our guide has shed some light on how new technologies have eased the problem. And, if you liked reading our article, you’ll want to head straight for our health section for our additional tips and explainers.