There have been many changes over the past year — things like social distancing and sheltering in place have become part of our everyday vocabulary as a primary means of preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, for the healthcare worker who provides essential services to someone in their own home and then goes back to work in an office to complete paperwork or documentation, there is a greater risk of spreading the virus. That’s why many agencies have chosen to transition to remote offices instead of having their caregivers come to a central location.
In today’s blog from FOCOS Innovations, we want to discuss more ways that you can keep your home care employees safe while also maximizing efficiency and providing a seamless transition from working in an office to working from home. Keep reading, and if you’d like to learn more about how our electronic visit verification software can help your home care agency, please contact us.
Take Extra Precautions
The very nature of a home care provider’s job puts them in close contact with a number of people — many of whom may have COVID, or have been exposed to someone with it. Because care providers have this increased risk of exposure, it’s important to take any and all possible precautions to avoid spreading the virus.
Wearing a mask is a given when you’re in close proximity to anyone, so it goes without saying that a mask is a necessity for home care providers. Besides wearing a mask, a face shield should also be considered for added protection.
Caregivers should also be frequently reminded of many commonplace, yet vitally important, precautions. For instance, hands should be washed and sanitized frequently, avoid touching around the eyes, nose, and mouth, and keep as much of a distance from the recipient as possible while still being able to effectively administer care.
Once a visit is completed, the caregiver should remove any gloves or other disposable items before entering their car. Upon returning home, it’s a good idea to shower and change immediately before interacting with any others in the household.
Transition To Remote Offices
Many caregivers are used to going into an office to get their schedule or complete patient documentation. However, central office locations where employees gather can easily become a means for spreading the virus. That’s why many home care agencies are moving to remote office locations and allowing care providers to work from home or on the road.
Keeping in close communication with caregivers and ensuring all of the necessary documentation is completed may sound like a challenge if all of your employees are working remotely, but with the right technology, transitioning to this type of model is easily achievable and can offer several benefits for your employees, your agency, as well as the care recipients.
Working Smarter, Not Harder
The electronic visit verification software from FOCOS Innovations is designed to provide agencies with a complete solution that incorporates features like real-time communication between agencies, caregivers, and recipients, caregiver scheduling, and electronic documentation and verification of services provided. With this web-based software and our easy-to-use mobile app, documentation can be completed at the time of service instead of having to wait to go back to the office. This not only saves time but also improves the accuracy of documentation and allows home care providers to work safely in a remote location.
Agencies and care recipients can reap additional benefits from the adoption of the FOCOS web-based software. When it comes to health care, communication is key, and we provide several ways to communicate with everyone within the circle of support. Agencies can verify when and where services have been provided to ensure compliance and confirm that recipients are getting the quality of care they deserve. Recipients and approved family members can stay connected and informed with access to care information, notes, and real-time communication through the use of text messages. Communication is not only a key contributor to better health outcomes, it’s also essential for consumer satisfaction.
Improve Quality of Care and Protect Home Care Providers With FOCOS Innovations
COVID-19 has brought about challenges that many people never thought of before. Home care workers, in particular, have some of the greatest risks of contracting or transmitting the virus because of their proximity to others. However, there are new technologies — like the electronic visit verification software from FOCOS Innovations — that can help you adjust the way services are provided and documented. It offers the tools needed to simplify documentation, enhance communication, and improve the quality of care.
Find out more about how FOCOS Innovations can help your agency. Contact us with your questions or reach out to a member of our team to schedule a free demo of our software.
