The COVID-19 pandemic has tested long-term care facilities like never before. Among the challenges: combating infection control threats, working with employee shortages and bolstering residents’ spirits.
It certainly has not been easy.
But even now, in the midst of the continuing difficulties and uncertainty, we already can see one bright spot: nursing homes are savvier when it comes to technology.
Thanks to the pandemic, facilities have had to use or find tools that they didn’t have to rely on before. Whether it be using telehealth solutions, incorporating Zoom-like meetings into staff communications or offering tablets to connection-starved residents, nursing homes have had to grow and change technologically.
We at McKnight’s — and actually, so many of your peers — want to know how you have done it. What have you added, changed or created in a technological way in the last three months that has resulted in a favorable operational change for staff, families or residents? (Make no mistake: If you did something to brag about technologically any time over the last 12 months, we want to know about that as well.)
The McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards program offers an opportunity for operators to demonstrate how they have used processes and products to make a difference. The competition features two tracks — one for skilled nursing and one for senior living — with six categories in each. For skilled nursing, they are: Quality, High-Tech/High-Touch, Innovator of the Year, Keep It Super Simple, Safety, and Transitions. Entries should be made in the name of a provider(s), as opposed to vendor(s).
The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday (with a growing suspicion that organizers will kindly extend the window by a week … shhhh!). The McKnight’s team realizes it has not been an easy period on the front lines, and we certainly know time is not abundant. So we don’t want anybody to let this opportunity to show a little bit of pride go to waste. Nominate yourself (or a worthy colleague or team) for a McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Award today.
McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards is a joint presentation of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living. Stanley Healthcare is the Platinum sponsor, while MatrixCare is the Gold sponsor for the senior living track.
Liza Berger is Senior Editor at McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.
