OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
E-Health Records Position Industry for New Opportunities
E
lectronic health records continue to revolutionize the health care in- dustry and those in the senior living
industry that have been quick to adopt them. Today’s omnipresent and easy-to-use consumer technology permeating daily lives has led to expectations from residents’ fami- lies and some residents themselves that their health information also be just a click away. Senior living companies can benefit from technology adoption by paving the way for new avenues of business while creating more efficient operating environments. For senior living companies, strategic planning and recognizing the need to upgrade and adopt new technology is key to success. The emergence of accountable care
organizations may encourage some senior living companies to consider adding the technology. ACOs are under increased pressure to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. ACOs demonstrate their progress with data, in this case about an individual’s health and its outcomes with detailed medical records. Those who have transitioned to EHRs
are pleased with the results. Five Star Senior Living has about 230
properties and began implementing elec- tronic health records in December. So far, they’ve transitioned to electronic health re- cords in three communities and plan to add six by the end of the year, Vice President of Clinical Services Elizabeth Wheatley said. Five Star will transition to electronic health records in all of its communities, ex- cept with independent living, a sphere that generally doesn’t require medical services. “We’re going slowly and carefully with the
process,” Wheatley said. “It’s complex to say the least. … Organizational readiness is crit- ical for success.” ACOs and hospitals asking when senior living communities would add the technology also influenced the decision.
“I think hospitals are able to see the value that assisted living can have,” Wheatley said. Silverado has 31 properties and they’re
taking bids for an EHR system, expecting to select one this summer. The company is adding EHR technology to better benefit residents, according to Jeff Frum, senior vice president of strategic alliances. “We wanted to take our clinical outcomes
to the next level, and in order to do that we had to be more robust internally with our system,” Frum said, later sharing, “We’re doing this for our own sophistication and
better management of our own residents. We’re not blind to where healthcare is going, so we certainly need to be prepared when opportunities with ACOs or post- acute networks are possible.”
EHR Versus EMR EHR and EMR (electronic medical records) are often used interchangeably, but they dif- fer. EHRs allow providers to collect detailed data about patient health and fully commu- nicate with hospitals and doctors, including
Continued on page 28 JULY/AUGUST 2016 / SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE 27
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