Picture: Geralt

Nursing home neglect can be both intentional and unintentional. Sometimes, improper training, stress, and overworked staff can result in neglect. Other times, it’s the result of nursing homes not properly vetting their employees who then go on to cause harm. No matter the intention, these cases are far too prevalent in the United States. Residents in nursing homes can suffer severe physical and mental health problems as a result of inadequate care. There may be no way to prevent it from happening, but technology may just be a way to reduce its frequency. 

Employee Screening Programs

Visiting websites like gtakg.com can be useful for people who suspect that their loved ones have suffered from nursing neglect. High-quality nursing neglect attorneys can take the lead and get to the bottom of the situation. 

There might be a way to reduce the risk of neglect cases occurring in the first place through advanced employee screening programs. Some states have been doing trial runs of fingerprint systems that allow nursing homes to run their prospective new employees’ fingerprints through a national database. This can prevent nursing home workers from being hired if they have previous abuse or neglect charges to their name. 

Computer Systems

Given how many people can be involved in a single nursing home resident’s care, it’s essential for all information about that person to be accessible. Otherwise, vital data can fall through the cracks, and vulnerable people can be impacted. 

Computer systems with patient care software can be integral to ensuring this doesn’t happen. These systems are designed to be accessible for all medical workers and provide a medical history, physician notes, care plans, medication, social service information, and more. 

Order Entry Software

Wrongful death suits through medication errors or misdiagnosis are all too common. Something as simple as order entry software being installed on care workers’ mobile tablets may be able to reduce the risk of this happening. This software enables workers to order medication, check it’s the right type and book appointments for doctor’s care. The use of this technology may even reduce the risk of human error. 

Telemedicine

COVID-19 may have shined the spotlight on telemedicine, but this useful piece of technology has been around for some time. Being able to care for patients remotely with telemedicine may reduce some of the pressure on the medical staff who may be overworked and feeling stressed, which can sometimes lead to compromised patient care. 

Medical Alert Systems

In an understaffed nursing home or even one with many high-risk patients, medical alert systems can be essential technology to have. These systems allow nurses and care staff to access help with the touch of an emergency bottom. 

They can also identify issues with vital signs, help prevent people with dementia from wandering, and even alert care staff to accidents and falls. They can also be customized for specific problems a particular nursing home has been facing. 

If you suspect your loved ones are showing signs of nursing home neglect, a nursing neglect attorney may be able to assist. However, it may also offer much-needed peace of mind to know that technology exists to potentially reduce the risk of unintentional neglect from occurring in the first place.