Technology & IT

Computer engagement reduces antipsychotic usage, improves quality of life

A Chesapeake Bay nursing home's two-year pilot uses technology to improve social engagement and life quality for those with dementia. Read More »

Cedars-Sinai, HomeHero partner to help patients safely transition home

The Safe Transition Home program is designed to reduce impatient hospital readmissions, raise patient satisfaction and improve health outcomes.  Read More »

LeadingAge CAST adds new EHR adoption model

The site-adaptable model is being added to the organization’s portfolio of long-term care electronic health record selection tools. Read More »

Waiting for a new power chair

SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears relates how shopping for a new power chair can include a lot of adjustments and a lot of waiting. Read More »

Play a mobile game to advance Alzheimer’s research

The new mobile game Sea Hero Quest asks players to help a grown son recover his father’s memories lost to Alzheimer’s disease. Data collected from the game will help scientists study spatial navigation.  Read More »

PointRight names new president and CEO

Newly appointed president and CEO Steven Scott will be tasked with scaling predictive data analytics company PointRight for growth in both the payer and provider markets of long-term post-acute care. Read More »

LTPAC exec services and software companies partner

Pathway Health and Prime Care Technologies will help long-term post-acute care providers capture data and use business intelligence to improve enterprise performance.  Read More »

Useful Apps Club evaluates senior tech and services

Got apps? One non-profit group is using tech-loving seniors to test and evaluate the best apps for seniors and providing lessons in how to use them. Read More »

MatrixCare launches next generation CRM

The new system builds on the company's 25-year success with long-term care leads tracking and marketing solutions. Read More »

AHCA to Congress: Rural SNFs need better technology

Skilled nursing providers in rural areas need better access to broadband connectivity to keep up with the rapidly changing senior care landscape, providers said in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Read More »

Adding color to ICD-10 codes

A group of health information technology nerds enjoyed finding obscure and absurd ICD-10 codes like toxic effect of venom of bees, intentional self-harm. They thought others might, too, so they found their favorites, formed a publishing company and illustrated them for your amusement. Read More »

USF study: Brain exercise lets seniors drive on

University of South Florida researchers say certain types of brain exercise can improve reaction times, staving off cognitive decline and letting seniors hang onto a key piece of independence: a driver's license. Read More »

In the future: ‘Droney’ the helper

Drones could someday provide the ultimate in customer service in nursing home setting, delivering sheets, fetching water and monitoring hallways for wanderers. But, would residents want it? Read More »

mmLearn.org expands healthcare training video collection

The Web-based training company adds new training resources based on current trends and industry demand to fill employee healthcare training gaps, increase job satisfaction, reduce turnover and ultimately improve patient care.   Read More »

CMS solicits advancements, interventions in care delivery through Special Innovation Projects

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeks ideas for improving care delivery through a Special Innovation Program and will offer 28 awards totaling $8 million. Statements of Objectives will be available early April.  Read More »

Government to add nearly 6,000 updates to ICD-10

The CDC and CMS announced they will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the transition to the new classification system by implementing new diagnosis codes, hospital inpatient procedure codes and revision of existing code titles.  Read More »

Allscripts, Netsmart form $250M human services and PAC tech company

 Allscripts Healthcare Solutions and equity firm GI Partners entered a joint venture with Netsmart Technologies, Inc. to form the largest technology company solely focused on human services and post-acute care.  Read More »

RF Technologies launches small-site nurse call option

RF Technologies now offers many of the features of its enterprise system in an option for smaller nursing home settings. Read More »

Facility staff and cell phones

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears remembers when cell phones were first introduced in her nursing home and how much the etiquette and technology has changed. Read More »

Report: Patient engagement has a long way to go

A startling number of people across adult age groups are nonchalant about engaging in their own health and wellness, according to new survey data from Frost & Sullivan. Read More »

Harness the MDS for dementia care

The federally mandated minimum data set (MDS) is a documentation tool caregivers use every day that can help ensure quality dementia care. Read More »

American HealthTech, Medtelligent partner for AL care management

A skilled nursing EHR provider and an assisted living documentation provider join forces to offer a cross-continuum solution. Read More »

CMS pushes interoperability for LTC

The new initiative allows states to request the 90 percent enhanced matching funds to connect more Medicaid providers to a state health information exchange. Read More »

MatrixCare, CliftonLarsonAllen partner to help providers with value payment

CliftonLarsonAllen will consult MatrixCare clients on how to implement value based payment model initiatives.  Read More »

Kindred partners with Avalere for improved data analytics

The multi-year agreement gives the nation's largest post-acute care provider access to data analytics that can help improve care outcomes in real time.  Read More »

One-on-one with… Randall Holley

Great technology strategies include integrated systems and physician/nurse buy-in, says Commonwealth Care of Roanoke IT Director Randall Holley. Read More »