Working in multiple locations need not hinder efficient record-keeping by nurses and other senior living community care staff thanks to the Yardi EHR Care Stream App. Yardi EHR Care Stream app lets care staff execute point-of-care charting and related administrative tasks on mobile devices. Previously users had to log in to Yardi EHR, a full service electronic health record solution for senior living, to perform order resolutions before charting orders in the Yardi EHR Care Stream app. “This faster, more efficient process for order resolution helps all senior care nurses and especially those who work in multiple communities or remotely. They can spend less time on record-keeping and direct more of their energies to their pressing care responsibilities,” said Ray Elliott, vice president of senior living for Yardi. See how Yardi EHR combines with the rest of the Yardi Senior Living Suite to create a comprehensive technology platform for senior living...

For EHR systems, workplace training is essential. The software helps nurses deliver quality care, so it’s important that they become proficient in electronic charting and medication order management. Once they’ve learned the ropes, they get to spend more time with residents and less on technology. But when things change rapidly, as the case has been with COVID-19, it can be difficult to conduct enough hands-on training to bring staff up to speed, so it’s smart to provide extra learning resources to ensure they have the information they need, right when they need it. As a recent example, one senior living client of ours had the idea to create handouts for agency nurses who are supporting staff during the pandemic. Some of these new nurses were unfamiliar with Yardi EHR, so they were resorting to charting on paper. To get the nurses on track, the client created a two-page handout, featuring screenshots and instructions, that outlines what to do at the start, during and after a shift. It effectively guides the nurses through the essentials of a shift in Yardi EHR, and it even offers some troubleshooting in case they get stuck. The handouts have proven successful as a support tool across their communities. In that same spirit, we’ve created over a dozen job aids for Yardi EHR and Yardi eMAR to facilitate learning and help your staff be more productive. Each document covers one task (like adding new orders or updating a physician’s contact information) in clear, easy-to-follow language that caregivers can reference if they’re new to the process or just not quite sure about the steps. Here’s a quick rundown of what our new Yardi EHR and Yardi eMAR job aids explain: Adding, verifying and linking orders (both medical and non-medical) Navigating a...

Every day, millions of Americans start their morning the same way: with a handful of prescription pills. In fact, nearly a third of all adults take five or more medications regularly. In senior living communities, the number is even higher with the average resident consuming a staggering 12-14 medications per day, thanks, in part, to a concept known as the prescribing cascade. This begins when a drug is prescribed, an adverse drug event (ADE) occurs, and the symptoms are misinterpreted as an entirely new medical condition, for which an additional medication is prescribed. With advancements in science and technology, doctors and their patients now have thousands of different drugs to choose from. The influx of medications available on the market has caused prescription drug use to explode, growing 85% over the last two decades. This trend is exacerbated by a massive number of aging baby boomers, many of whom will soon require care. How can caregivers in the senior living industry manage medications and mitigate risk in an increasingly drug-dependent world? One of the simplest strategies to implement is called the five rights: The Right Drug Prescription medications often have names that are easily mixed up. To minimize confusion between those that look or sound alike, the FDA reviews about 300 drug names a year before they hit the market—and about one-third of the names drug companies propose are rejected. For this reason, it’s critical to double or triple check the order with the label on the prescription packaging. The Right Route There are more than fifteen ways to administer medication, so never make assumptions. A pill, for instance, can be swallowed, crushed or held inside the cheek. Check that the medication can be given as ordered. If it’s an injection, check to see if it should be administered intravenously or intramuscularly. And if the medication lacks specific instructions, ask. The Right Dose Improper dosing is the number one contributing factor to fatal drug errors. When people...

It’s never too late to make a resolution for the New Year, especially if it improves efficiencies at your senior housing properties. Resolve to go mobile! When you make the transition to mobile charting, you pave the way to success. What is Mobile Charting? Mobile charting is simply the act of entering resident information on the go. Care staff enters resident data into Yardi Senior Living Suite using a mobile device. Resident data can then be conveniently and securely stored in cloud. Why makes the transition from paper to mobile charting? We’re glad that you asked. Here are five benefits to making the switch. 5 Benefits of Mobile Charting Mobile charting increases care staff time with residents. When staff can’t access a mobile device to enter resident data, they must interrupt their rounds to do so. That means less time engaging with residents and more time tethered to a desk. With mobile charting, care staff naturally integrate data entry into their resident visits. Mobile charting improves accuracy and consistency of resident data. Remember how staff scurries between residents’ rooms and office computers to enter data? In the shuffle, they struggle to remember details from one visit to the next. This may result in inaccuracies and missing data. With mobile charting, there is no lag time between receiving and entering data. Immediate record keeping results in greater accuracy and better care for residents. Mobile charting enhances accountability amongst care staff. With paper charting, it isn’t always easy to tell who altered a file or when. When a staff member logs into Yardi EHR on a mobile device, their contributions to resident files are marked with a date and electronic signature. The automatic features enhance accountability and record keeping. Mobile charting protects resident data. Sheets of...

“We use our Yardi platform to accomplish everything. It works for us,” said Joenita Turner, senior application support specialist at Silver Sky Assisted Living. Silver Sky Assisted Living and Silver Sky at Deer Springs are Nevada HAND’s two communities for seniors who need some extra help. The communities offer comprehensive services including meals, onsite caregivers, 24-hour nursing and medical support along with a full calendar of activities. To ensure the most efficient operations so that its residents get the best care possible, Silver Sky relies on fully integrated and cloud-hosted software solutions from the Yardi Senior Living Suite including Yardi Voyager Senior Housing, RENTCafé Senior Living, Yardi Senior CRM and Yardi EHR along with Yardi Maintenance and Yardi eLearning. Turner started out as a property manager before switching over to her applications role at Silver Sky. “I know how things work from the front office to back end administration,” she said. The company recently went through a rebrand, which included adding RENTCafé Senior Living to offer a range of convenient online services to its residents and their families. Succeeding with online services RENTCafé Senior Living is built into the Voyager platform and through online portals it allows residents and their families to manage healthcare information, make payments, communicate with staff and submit service requests. “Out of state family members can log in to make payments, view health records and submit maintenance requests — which saves them time so that when they visit, they can focus on being with their loved ones. Our residents have been excited to enroll for online services, and we’re expecting an at least 80% adoption rate,” Turner said. Silver Sky’s staff is also enjoying the benefits of online services and electronic transactions. Turner added, “Our accountants love it, because it...