Implementation of the CareTracker System at Dodge Park Rest Home, Worcester MA

June 15, 2012 - PRLog -- Dodge Park Rest Home is very pleased to announce the full implementation of the CareTracker system in the facility. CareTracker is an innovative electronic documentation system for long-term care organizations that is proven to improve  accuracy, clinical outcomes and compliance by using touch screens and portable computers. The CareTracker Clinical Intelligence tool analyzes millions of data records to find and alert employees to potential issues before they become problems.

CareTracker will help Dodge Park Rest Home direct care employees by eliminate the undesirable effects of paper documentation systems.

Micha Shalev MHA and Ben Herlinger  passion for technology is contagious. As the owners of Dodge Park Rest Home Community in Worcester, MA, they are responsible for making sure the organization does everything necessary to provide the best possible care while ensuring safety and profitability.

The organization accomplishes these goals by focusing on technology and innovation, or as Micha Shalev puts it, by investing in unique tools like CareTracker that “allows staff more time to give hands on assistance which enhances each person’s quality of life.”

From Facebook to electronic data collection, Dodge Park Rest Home embraces the newest and best. There is even a PowerPoint presentation on Dodge Park Rest Home web site for visitors to read. The presentation is titled “Technology of the Future, Already at Dodge Park Rest Home and it showcases all the systems that they use to help provide better care, improve quality of life, and continue the tradition of excellent care.

At Dodge Park Rest Home, two technologies in particular ensure that employees provide the best possible care every day, every shift. An electronic medication system called QuickMar, minimizes potential medication errors, and a touchscreen data collection system called CareTracker makes sure Activities of Daily Living, Moods, and Behaviors are recorded in a timely matter.

“We use the best available technology that will help us give better and safer care,” said Micha Shalev. “When you have no holes in your flowsheets it’s pretty hard to mess up a Department of Public Health survey, and CareTracker eliminates that possibility. It takes the variables off the table. I sleep better!”

“The CNAs really love the system,” said Ben Herlinger. “They don’t have to use paper, and they seem to be able to track ADLs better now because they are charting as they go, throughout the day. We just had some new CNAs start and they had not used CareTracker before. They just could not believe it. They loved it.”
“It’s a staff retention tool,” Ben added.

“The buttons for mood and behavior are great,” said Micha. “If there is a resident with a problem we can pull it up really quickly and see his or her behaviors within 24 hours, and compare it to last week. Before CareTracker, the aides would just tell the nurse or the RP, if a resident had a problem and the charting was very hit-and-miss. This is routine for most of the long-term care.

CareTracker makes us unique. It easy because it’s used every day. The system pops up and asks the staff about behaviors. It helps the nurses track problems right away.”

The CareTracker implementation process includes two-days of onsite training,  after which an organization is up and running. “To train someone, maybe it takes 60 minutes and that’s everything,” said Ben, “and for some of the CNAs it really didn’t take even 60minutes.”
“They all grew up on videogames,” said Micha, “CareTracker is like a hybrid videogame. Like the help videos for people who may have some comprehension problems. They see the video, they hear the words, and it just clicks. CareTracker combines the optimal way of teaching people things they don’t know or aren’t sure about.