Whether you’re new to the point of care cna or a seasoned professional, there are several things you should keep in mind to improve the quality of care you provide to residents and patients. One of the first steps is implementing effective communication and reducing information transfer discrepancies. Another step is leveraging health information technology to capture POC test results. Finally, you’ll want to ensure you can monitor a resident’s condition efficiently.
Monitor a Resident’s Condition
Detecting changes in a resident’s condition is essential in maintaining a quality life for seniors. This can be achieved by developing a solid plan that involves everyone in the organization. Not reporting changes can result in serious outcomes such as death and transfer to the hospital. It is also imperative to ensure that you follow up on the first sign of a change in a resident’s condition.
Using a computerized system, such as Point of Care, to document and track a resident’s care will help eliminate manual compilations and ensure that you are meeting the standard of care for all your residents. This will also provide a complete picture of a resident’s condition.
Improve Communication
Increasing communication efficiency with the point of care cna is crucial for improving the quality of nursing care in long-term care. However, few studies have been published in the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies.
Team Training on Nurse-Physician Communication
A recent integrative review aimed to identify interventions that improve communication between nurses and physicians in intensive care units. Eleven studies were identified and included in the search. All were peer-reviewed. One study looked at the effectiveness of an electronic SBAR documentation template. Another explored the impact of team training on nurse-physician communication.
Most of the studies focused on a daily goal sheet. This form is oriented to patient treatment and allows the clinical staff to document data accurately. This intervention is the most commonly used in ICUs. Other tools include a door communication card and a bedside whiteboard. The results suggest that using these tools can help improve nurse-physician communication.
Reduce Operator & Analytical Errors
Getting your hands on a shiny new blood pressure monitor is one thing; slapping a patient on it is another. Keeping your patients safe from reoccurring high blood pressure is a top priority. The best way to do this is to ensure your staff is adequately trained and equipped. If they aren’t, your patients will suffer. Using a blood pressure monitor correctly is the first step to achieving a high-quality patient care experience. This is a big deal in a hospital setting. There are many ways to improve blood pressure control in your organization. Still, none is more important than training your staff to monitor blood pressure and other patient care tasks effectively. A clear communication channel is essential, but ensuring staff understands your expectations is the first step to a successful blood pressure control program.
Optimize Health Information Technology Capabilities
Using point-of-care (POC) testing, it is possible to perform various tests without a blood draw, a urine sample, or a finger prick. However, some pitfalls exist, ranging from a lack of transparency to an inability to test for a disease as thoroughly as a lab-based procedure.
Some of the more practical perks of a POC approach include quickly and accurately diagnosing diseases and better assessing patients’ health. These tests can be used with other types of portable medical equipment, such as blood pressure devices. While this type of procedure may be more expensive than laboratory-based procedures, it is also more convenient.
Reduce Information Transfer Discrepancies
Using a good point of care CNA system is essential for improving the quality of care for patients in long-term care facilities. It can help eliminate handwritten caregiver notes and increase real-time data accuracy. It also can improve the flow of information in the clinical setting and reduce the number of medical errors. Those in charge of implementing a new system must understand how to effectively document the process and implement strategies for enhanced information exchange.
Final Words:
Point of care CNA documentation should be transparent and in line with CMS Quality Measures. It is also important to use forms to ensure accurate documentation. If you need to hire a full-time transcriber, this may not be cost-effective. Alternatively, you can cross-train other staff members to take on backup tasks.
