Mobile devices help hospice automate workflow

Last month, the 34-year-old hospice located in Newton, N.C. began using android-based devices developed by Schaumburg, Ill.-based CellTrak Technologies Inc., along with mobile-Internet enabling air cards to automate workflow and reduce costs.

Since daily rounds for nurses include visiting patients at their homes, the CellTrak device automatically records mileage; provides the nurse with a comprehensive report complete with driving directions; and relays patient status and records back to the hospice over Verizon's 4G LTE wireless network.

Commenting on the significance of this new technology, Tammy Jensen, finance director for Catawba Regional Hospice said, "With new technology, our clinical staff now spend more time with patients and their families instead of filling out paper reports. The result has been improved operational efficiencies that translate into reduced costs. We've already seen a $70,000 per year savings since adopting CellTrak and other Verizon Wireless devices."

Jensen also noted that the hospice's nursing staff is now able to visit 90 additional patients each week as a result of improved workflow.

The adoption of newer technologies is paying off for Catawba Regional Hospice. It was recently named a winner of the 2013 Verizon Wireless Technology Innovation Awards for small and mid-sized businesses and was awarded the $10,000 grand prize for using technology in an innovative way.