Are you tying yourself up in knots and completely confused by digital care planning options? Are you tired of all the jargon that seems to go with it? If find your head in the clouds when people talk about cloud-based software or like the sound of ‘real time’ but not sure you know what it means? Then read on.
Here are four of the most commonly used digital terms, what we mean when we use them and why they are important in the context of residential and nursing care homes.
1. Cloud-based
The image of data floating around in a cloud somewhere is such a romantic one that we almost don’t want to ruin it. But that’s the point of this post, so here goes…
The term ‘cloud-based computing’ means ‘a type of Internet-based computing’, where different services, such as storage, are delivered to an organisation’s computers and devices through the Internet.
“‘Cloud’ is effectively used as a metaphor for ‘the Internet’.”
Cloud services are delivered by providers like Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services and they are notoriously difficult to access without the right permission and incredibly reliable.
Why does it matter?
Cloud based data storage is the most secure way to store your data, hands down. Having peace of mind that data is being securely processed through a cloud-based system should be front of mind when considering a digital solution.
2. Real-time
This one may sound real simple, but it’s a bit of a tricky concept to explain. Real-time is fundamentally a way of describing computers or applications which are set up so that they seem to operate at the same speed as the passing of time.
The main benefit of a real-time system is that it can be used to respond and react to events immediately. For example, spacecraft deploy several real-time systems, which respond to triggers such as reaching a different atmospheric level and react as soon as they happen.
Why does it matter?
With a real-time system, as soon as a post is recorded, it is updated and visible accross all devices, immediately. That means care teams can monitor and make interventions with the most up to date information at the point of care.
3. Integrated
Integrated solutions are almost as ubiquitous as cloud-based ones and almost as buzzword-y. An integrated system is one which merges multiple different applications or software, allowing you to use them seamlessly, almost as if they were one system.
So when you use Microsoft Office, it is integration which makes it possible to add Excel sheets into your PowerPoint presentations.
Why does it matter?
For residential care homes, ‘integration’ means being able to link together the various different systems you use so you have one login and one device to read all your data, from your digital care planning system to your nurse call system, your digital rota management to activity planning software. Be sure to assess any digital system you are considering carefully to check it is built for integration, as some won’t be.
4. Insights
Our fourth and final jargon buster is a word you’ve probably heard thousands of times in a different context and not really thought about what it means for care home management. ‘Insights’ refers to the information which is generated through analysis of a large volume of data about a particular topic. Or.. in simpler terms generating insights is gaining new important knowledge.
“More data was created in the last two years than the previous 5,000 years of humanity. In 2017, we will create even more data in one year alone. ”
Insights can shed new light on huge volumes of data. Without insights we wouldn’t be able to see the wood for the trees.
Why does it matter?
In a general context, ‘insight’ is defined as ‘the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing’. For residential care homes, more information about your residents health and wellbeing means a better and deeper understanding of their needs which can only result in better care outcomes.
And finally…
If you are interested in finding out more about KareInn’s easy to use digital care planning software for residential and nursing care homes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d be more than happy to demonstrate the KareInn system in action or just have a chat about what going paperless could mean for you.
