With all the talk of big data and real-time and predictive analytics in healthcare, it’s a nice respite to hear such efforts being applied in the nonprofit setting.
Have a Heart, a nonprofit that provides services to physically and developmentally disabled children and adults, will use a cloud-based platform developed by eCaring, with the primary goal of maintaining the best possible independence for such individuals.
Earlier this year, eCaring raised $3.5 million to expand into the so-called grey market of home monitoring for seniors, which is expected to grow to $20.9 billion by 2016.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
In announcing the collaboration, New York-based eCaring said its technology will permit Wisconsin-based Have a Heart caregivers to use real-time information stemming from data collected on clinical, behavioral and medication adherence for each resident that eCaring will then filter into alerts. That will enable caregivers to respond immediately if a patient misses medications or if a wheelchair or bed goes un-turned or positioned appropriately, thereby preventing potentially serious complications. Have a Heart management and family can then receive alerts and monitor care on a 24-7 basis.
“We chose eCaring after an intensive search, because I found no other system that comes close to eCaring in giving us a whole new quality assurance compliance tool for management oversight,” said Amber Carlson, executive director of the nonprofit. “Its ease of use and access to real-time data, which can be quickly adapted to group residential, supportive residences and community program settings, also gives families a new level of reassurance.”
So how does it differ from other such systems?
“Most systems that I evaluated are inflexible and require intensive staff training. With eCaring’s simple interface and responsive support staff, we had our system up and running and trained our staff in a matter of days.”
Have a Heart joins other customers of eCaring in applying the use of real-time information for people with developmental disabilities, including Senior Health Partners, Jewish Home Lifecare and providers like Beth Israel Medical Center.
eCaring is also looking to tap into the home care field, which is expected to grow in lieu of a growing senior population that has hospitals and providers trying to stem preventable ER readmissions. The company said its platform can be applied to managing seniors and others with chronic conditions, detecting changes in normal behaviors, improved information sharing and efficiency and thus reduced healthcare costs.
