Infection Prevention and your Technology
Pioneer understands the need to maintain a clean environment in every healthcare facility. That is why we follow the latest infection prevention & control procedures. Check out this checklist on best practices for maintaining clean technology in your facility. Download Here!
Skilled Nursing Tech Talks
Join Ian Gelenter on February 16th at the Skilled Nursing News Tech Talks to learn how our customers simplify their clinical workflow through the use of technology. Register at
https://techtalks.skillednursingnews.com/talks/session-2/
Pioneer named the Most Promising Healthcare Solutions Provider 2022
Pioneer Solution was recognized by CIO Review as one 2022's Most Promising Healthcare Solutions Provider. Our own Ian Gelenter, Senior Vice President, was recently interviewed to discuss Pioneers role in point of care technology. Read the article here
About Pioneer Solution Inc.
Founded in 1994, Pioneer is headquartered in California with offices in Asia and distributors worldwide. We focus on designing and supplying integrated/embedded touchscreen solutions for multiple vertical markets, including healthcare, hospitality, retail, and industrial. Our products are designed to have a long shelf life (a minimum of 5 years) and serviceability (a minimum of 7 years). With our extensive engineering background, we can also work with our customers in designing a custom product from start until production, which may involve custom molding, system board engineering, laboratory or agency approval, assembly, and production. This expertise has resulted in numerous high-profile OEM projects.
Pioneer Solution to Showcase Healthcare Solutions at LeadingAge PA Conference + Expo
Pioneer Solution is pleased to announce that we will be attending the 2019 LeadingAge PA Annual Conference + EXPO this week (June 18-21, 2019) at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Penn.
Bringing together hundreds of industry professionals, the conference offers an unparalleled forum for showcasing a variety of forward-thinking ideas.
If you are attending, we invite you to stop by booth #132/133 to learn how you can Own the Future!
We will be introducing our new ultra-slim 16" touchscreen computer for healthcare. Imagine the perfect combination of durable medical grade technology with a sleek form factor, providing you with the ultimate tool for tracking care services at the point of care.
You will also have the opportunity to see our mobile AIO touchscreen computer with the RxChange hot swappable battery system.
Finally, drop your business card to be entered to win a FREE onsite technology assessment by our technology experts. We will visit your facility to document the existing technology set up, offer best practices for optimal workflow, and provide specific recommendations on how to achieve predictable, successful outcomes.
Why Having the Right Point of Care (POC) Devices is Essential for CMS’s New Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM)
In the senior care industry, one of the biggest topics of conversation lately has been the new Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) from the U.S. Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).
On October 1, 2019, skilled nurse facilities (SNFs) will be required to use this case-mix classification model in order to classify SNF patients in covered Part A stays.
PDPM in a Nutshell
The new PDPM is replacing the RUG-UV scores as a reimbursement model. Currently, there’s a heavy reliance on therapy minutes as it relates to care; moving forward, the importance will be centered around the actual care provided and the positive health outcomes of the patient.
CMS explains that “PDPM eliminates [the incentive of SNF providers furnishing therapy regardless of a patient’s needs, goals, or characteristics] and improves the overall accuracy and appropriateness of SNF payments by classifying patients into payment groups based on specific, data-driven patient characteristics, while simultaneously reducing administrative burden on SNF providers.”
Unlike RUG-IV, which assigns patients to different therapy payment groups based on the volume of therapy services, PDPM uses what CMS calls “clinically relevant factors” to determine what Medicare payments should be.
These factors include each individual patient’s unique needs, goals, and characteristics, which can fall under different types of therapy:
The Importance of Accurate Care Documentation in PDPM
It is more important than ever for facilities to accurately record what care is being provided. We’re seeing a shift from the volume of therapy services counting to a need for real-time point of care (POC) documentation of activities of daily living (ADLs).
That’s because under PDPM, Medicare reimbursement is now driven by ADLs and, inherently, POC documentation.
Since POC documentation consists of the real-time capturing of ADLs, it is crucial that healthcare providers have the technology that is built to support their specific needs.
For more information on how your organization can achieve Real-Time Clinical Documentation and Predictably Successful Outcomes®, contact the Clinical Workflow Experts at Pioneer Solution!
3 Main Components POC Devices Should Have
In general, POC devices should consist of a few crucial components – especially in light of PDPM’s incoming changes:
1) Medical Grade
Unlike consumer-grade devices, medical grade devices are built specifically for healthcare environments. They are designed to meet the rigorous demands of targeted clinical workflows like ADL capture and EMAR to achieve dependable results related to each application.
Capable of providing maximum dependability under continuously heavy-duty cycles, they have come to be recognized by the long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) industry as a best practice for achieving predictable and successful EMR outcomes.
Anti-microbial coatings on touchscreens and sealed keyboards mean that they are dust- and spill-proof and can be cleaned with medical grade cleaners with no damage to the hardware.
Key Takeaway: Medical grade POC devices enable healthcare workers to capture POC documentation in any specific environment and in any kind of workflow.
2) Technology that is as Mobile as You
POC devices usually fall into one of three camps:
- Kiosks (Wall-Mounted Medical Grade Touchscreens)
- Handheld Medical Grade Tablets
- Workstations on Wheels
All three offer different advantages for ADL Capture in senior care. It’s important to choose devices that meet certain characteristics and will provide consistent and favorable outcomes in your facility. A POC device which offers predictable successful outcomes is defined as one that will work how you need it, where you need it, and when you need it 99.9% of the time.
For kiosks, it’s recommended that you look for solutions that provide a stable and predictable charting portal for clinicians while maximizing durability, cleanability, patient privacy, and efficiency.
Meanwhile, a best practice for choosing tablets is to look for medical grade devices that include a system of wall-mountable power stations that can be easily accessed by CNAs and incorporated into their mobile workflows.
Lastly, for work stations on wheels, selecting a technology with a hot-swappable battery system is essential to avoid uninterrupted workflows. We understand the battery limitations of a laptop and issues of risking patient safety and violating ADA regulations when carts end up stationary in the hallway till the laptop is charged.
Hot-swappable battery systems offer two major advantages: they provide 24/7 mobility, and with the elimination of cables, greatly reduce patient risks from falls to trips.
Key Takeaway: Medical grade POC devices – when chosen correctly – can enable nursing staff to document ADLs and perform MedPass accurately, in real-time and consistently, 24/7.
3) Risk Management and Compliance
Protecting patient information arguably requires a multifaceted approach. One important component is the use of privacy filters with computer screens that are used in common areas such as hallways to prevent the unwanted viewing of patient data during documentation.
Researching and selecting POC devices that secure data ports and offer embedded privacy filters are effective ways to help ensure patient privacy, protect vulnerable data, and minimize risks for exposure to legal issues.
Key Takeaway: By selecting medical grade POC devices with already-embedded HIPAA privacy filters and secure or hidden data ports, providers can not only ensure that workflow is efficient, but also that their patients’ data is being protected per HIPAA regulations.
Conclusion
With the introduction of PDPM, providers will need to have accurate and real-time information about the care provided to their residents in order to not miss out on any reimbursements.
Pioneer’s medical grade solutions enable that. Because our medical grade computers, tablets, and mobile work stations (i.e., work stations on wheels) are designed for clinical workflows, are battery-powered to allow for 24/7 mobility, and include HIPAA compliant embedded privacy screens, they are the ideal solution you need to prepare for PDPM and be successful.
Pioneer is Flawless in Chicagoland Point-of-Care Facilities
Several long-term care facilities serving northern Chicago offer the industry’s most effective rehabilitation services, including one-on-one physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapies. They have also been recognized as national leaders in stroke recovery and post-hospital and orthopedic rehabilitation for almost four decades.
Not only do they serve short-term post-hospital patients, but they also offer long-term nursing services treating Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as short-term hospice care. With the recent changes in healthcare requirements, Tinley Park, Ill.-based ProviNET Solutions helped implement a new EHR (electronic health record) solution where touchscreen functionality comprises a large portion of their point of care needs.
The Pioneer CarisTouch all-in-one was a perfect fit and also fulfilled the physical requirements of the Illinois Department of Public Health, as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Since they are a major healthcare provider, they found huge benefits in taking advantage of the Pioneer 17-inch CarisTouch’s built-in antimicrobial chassis and built-in privacy filter on each of the all-in-one terminals.
The Pioneer CarisTouch touchscreen computer is designed specifically for healthcare environments, and “the privacy filter and antimicrobial features were key to choosing Pioneer POS for the installation,” said Mark Nunnikhoven, Director of Client Relations at ProviNET Solutions. ProviNET is a full-service IT company which offers wide-ranging technology products and services across the Chicagoland area.
Mark went on to add that “for this project, the CarisTouch Infinity all-in-ones were primarily utilized as wall mounted kiosks in the nursing facilities. Nurses routinely use these touchscreens on a daily basis to assist in the delivery of patient care to input patient data, and they needed a dependable hardware solution that has really made inroads into the healthcare market.” Mark went on to say that “since Pioneer POS is manufactured and sourced in the U.S., it helps with a quick turnaround as well as any necessary warranty replacement fulfillments.”
With the help of HealthMEDX Vision software—specifically designed for healthcare solutions—the point of care solutions help organize the roles within the long-term care facility and save time by helping users find the information they need quickly and easily to serve their patients. “The HealthMEDX Vision solution can also completely integrate standard extended care information system functions, including CRM (Customer Relationship Management).”
The CarisTouch is a state-of-the-art all-in-one touchscreen computer designed specifically for healthcare applications and is powered by Intel. Its rugged design can withstand the harsh and demanding healthcare environments, and every CarisTouch screen is built to protect against liquid sprays and can withstand millions of touches. Its enclosure contains an anti-microbial additive to prevent the growth and spread of surface micro-organisms and bacteria.
In order to help comply with HIPAA requirements, the CarisTouch is also equipped to protect patients’ personal and confidential information with its innovative design which allows a privacy screen filter to be embedded internally, so only the user in front of the screen to see the information concealing views from other angles. By embedding the privacy filter, the CarisTouch also eliminates the need to regularly clean the privacy filter from fingerprints and possible scratches.
The HealthMEDX Vision solution is flexible and can easily be customized to fit any healthcare facility’s needs to have optimal functionality for any user. Mark added that “since the EHR system is electronic instead of paperless, it will most certainly improve efficiency and profitability with more accurate and real-time charting of the patient record.”
The CarisTouch is also versatile in that it can be configured as a diskless thin client running applications off the server, and also has the processing power to run complex applications under Windows or Linux. With plenty of Serial and USB ports available, the CarisTouch can be seamlessly integrated with any devices, including badge, biometric, and proximity readers, as well as barcode scanners and wireless networks. The CarisTouch has a longer shelf-life than many other all-in-ones allowing large enterprise roll-outs to install the same CarisTouch model over a number of years. This commitment will reduce the deployment and support overheads, and it allows our customers to reduce the total cost of ownership of the equipment.
“The touchscreens by themselves will not inherently provide additional profitability for the customer’s organization,” Mark added, “but other than the simple fact that the hardware is covered by a three-year warranty and are built with robust hardware specifications—they are designed to be deployed in a healthcare setting. This will otherwise mitigate the customers’ concern of having to purchase replacement hardware that wasn’t intended for this specific purpose every 1-2 years.”
Overall, ProviNET installed over 80 Pioneer computers across four Chicagoland long-term care facilities, and the Pioneer POS CarisTouch-HealthMEDX Vision solutions seamlessly integrated.
“Any training on the actual Pioneer POS hardware was negligible. Since the EHR touchscreen application itself, of course, required training, there was nothing inherent on the CarisTouch that needed to be learned by any of the nursing or administrative staff,” Mark concluded. “Because the HealthMEDX Vision application is web-based, the new Pioneer all-in-ones were deployed very quickly, and expectations were not only met but were exceeded. Thanks to the Pioneer POS CarisTouch touchscreens, the POC solution functions flawlessly.”
The Pioneer healthcare touchscreen solutions are used in doctor’s offices, hospitals, laboratories, clinics, nursing homes, retirement homes, assisted living centers, and many other healthcare environments across the country.
About Pioneer
Pioneer designs and manufactures a complete line of industry-specific all in one computers, touch screen monitors, and kiosks. Founded in 1994 and based in California, Pioneer manufactures its solutions from start to finish in the USA which are deployed in Healthcare, Retail, Hospitality, and Gaming applications. Pioneer has built an exceptional reputation with its customers and reseller partners for superior flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs including short lead times, long product life cycles (minimum of 5 years), easy customization, and quick turnaround. Pioneer sells through qualified technology resellers throughout the US and globally.
About ProviNET Solutions
For over 20 years, ProviNET has been providing IT solutions you can trust for clients in healthcare and senior services. ProviNET is a full-service Information Technology consulting company offering a vast array of products and services. Born out of a long-term care provider, ProviNET is very familiar with the strict demands and urgent needs of the long-term care marketplace. ProviNET started out as the internal IT department for Providence Life Services, headquartered in the Chicagoland area. Providence Life Services owns and operates more than a dozen senior living communities throughout the Midwest and places a high emphasis on utilizing technology to streamline operations and provide premium care to its senior residents. Because of this unique relationship with Providence, ProviNET is able to develop trusted technology solutions that are the right fit for the long-term care marketplace.
About HealthMEDX
HealthMEDX is the only vendor that provides an integrated, person-centric system that includes a full electronic medical record and comprehensive billing system with integrated CRM. The product, known as Vision, supports the entire Post-Acute Care continuum, including Long Term Care (Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Independent Living), Rehab, Homecare and Hospice. The SaaS-based architecture includes the HealthMEDX Exchange interoperability platform allowing post-acute providers to connect with hospitals, physicians and payers to address readmission management and facilitate care coordination across the care continuum. HealthMEDX Vision also offers an iOS-based mobile platform for the iPad® and iPhone® to allow physicians access to patient/resident health information from any location.
HealthMEDX Vision 7.1.10 is a CCHIT Certified® 2011 Long Term Post-Acute Care EHR additionally certified for Home Health and Skilled Nursing Facility. HealthMEDX Vision 7.1.10 is ONC-ACB Certified as a Modular EHR under the hospital and eligible provider certification criteria. For full certification details, please visit www.healthmedx.com and click on the ONC-ATCB seal at the bottom of the page.