How Hospice AI Technology Elevates Patient Care
Author: Harper Dion
Edited: October 11, 2024
Posted: March 19, 2024
Tech-Enabled Solutions for Home Health and Hospice
In the ever-changing world of post-acute care, compliance, efficiency, and resource management are crucial for survival and success. As workforce turmoil continues, there's an ever-present need for tools and strategy that allows caregivers to do more with less. In the hospice industry, where every moment counts, providers must remain committed to providing the highest quality care, supporting patients and families in this pivotal time of life. Streamlining this care and guaranteeing comfort for patients requires technological intervention to ensure quality remains consistent amid resource and employment struggles. As providers deal with the complicated job of imparting comfort and care during life's tough moments, advanced technology is set to change how the industry takes care of patients and supports caregivers. Harnessing intelligent technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics presents significant opportunities in the hospice sector. This approach optimizes caregiver efficiency, ensuring they are precisely where their care is most needed. The result is improved outcomes and the delivery of compassionate end-of-life care.
The Landscape of Hospice Care
For many years, the industry of post-acute and hospice care has been characterized by regulatory turmoil, heavy responsibility, limited resources, and of course, passion-driven care. The passion present in caregivers and agency providers has pushed the industry to remain strong and adapt throughout the uncertainty and regulatory burden while remaining committed to quality, timely care. As an essential wing of post-acute care, hospice faces similar turmoil and staffing concerns. Additionally, however, the nature of hospice care makes every moment of utmost importance. The hospice care cycle can be one of the most challenging times of life for patients and families alike. As caregivers provide assistance while navigating through this intimate journey, it is imperative that timely care is available around the clock immediately when required. Clinicians in hospice care have an important duty to provide comfort and peace of mind to patients and their families as they approach this pivotal chapter of life. This specialized form of care goes beyond solely addressing the physical aspects of patients' conditions; it involves navigating the intricate landscape of emotional and spiritual needs.
In response to these challenges, the call for innovation emerges not merely as an option but as an imperative. There is a critical need to introduce effective approaches that go beyond traditional medical practices. This innovation includes holistic strategies aimed at elevating patient care within the hospice setting, including strategies and implementations to transform the hospice landscape for patients and caregivers.
Understanding AI in Hospice
Leveraging technology to improve operational outcomes has become a central discussion within the post-acute industry, this holds especially true within the hospice sector. Scheduling tools, voice-to-text solutions, process automation, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) are the main innovations entering the forefront to save clinician time and overhaul positive outcomes in care. In an industry such as hospice where time is truly of the essence, clinicians need interventions to streamline care and ensure they are in the right place at the right time. The most common application of intelligent technology is AI-powered tools to enhance documentation and back-office processes, ensuring clinicians can spend most of their time physically providing care. Things like Robotic Process Automation (RPAs) dominate this space, using intelligent technology from Element5 automates tasks like documentation, intake, authorization, and even auditing to remove monotonous responsibilities and increase compliance.
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Using process automation can streamline up to 33% of healthcare tasks1, creating instant and compliant processes, and redistributing time fully towards patient care. Another solution finding increased success in the post-acute industry is intelligent voice-to-text technology like the nVoq tool for compliant and streamlined documentation. Clinicians are continually weighed down by a documentational burden requiring not just time, but also spotless accuracy to avoid scrutiny from CMS. Utilizing voice-to-text documentation solutions creates an instantaneous documentation process, saving countless hours and removing the possibility of error and burnout.
Predictive Analytics: A Game-Changer
RPAs, AI enhancements, and transformative technology are used throughout post-acute care, but the most promising specifically within the hospice sector is predictive analytics. Predictive analytics, like the Muse tool from Medalogix, uses intelligent technology to analyze data and make accurate recommendations about care needs, patient well-being, and overall health at close to 95% accuracy.2 When properly implemented, these tools provide early identification of patient problems, tailored care plans, and overall enhanced decision-making for hospice caregivers.
Using RPAs and intelligent technology redistributes clinician time and removes monotonous tasks. Once this framework has been created, predictive analytics takes center stage to fully elevate quality and care in the hospice setting. Using these analytical tools to predict care needs and streamline resources empowers agencies and provides caregivers with the tools and data to be in the right place at the right time. With time being of the essence, predictive analytics streamlines essential hospice care at the most pivotal and emotional moments for patients and their families.
The MHA Difference - Strategic Tech-Enabled Solutions
As automated technology and predictive analytics continue to expand in the post-acute space, so does the availability and quality of care. With difficult conditions for caregivers and back-office staff, the time is now to invest in technology to enhance your agency and empower greater outcomes for patients and clinicians. Maxwell Healthcare Associates brings industry-leading experts from all facets of care to assist your agency through these trying times. With a comprehensive suite of tech-enabled solutions from both MHA’s Innovation team or one of our Strategic Partners, your agency is in the right hands to succeed and prosper. If you are interested in learning more about our technology, or how we can connect you with automation and analytical solutions, contact us today at [email protected] or visit www.maxwellhca.com.
This blog was originally published as "Improve Hospice Quality and Care with AI Tools" by Harper Dion on March 19, 2024. The MHA team has since updated this article to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Resources:
- McKinsey & Company. "Making Healthcare More Affordable Through Scalable Automation." Published September 16, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2024, from https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/making-healthcare-more-affordable-through-scalable-automation
- https://www.maxwellhca.com/our-partners/medalogix