PadInMotion: The World’s First Patient Engagement System Using Tablet Technology

 

PadInMotion:

The World’s First Patient Engagement System Using Tablet Technology

By:   Stephanie Hayes

            Technology is becoming increasingly important in healthcare. Technology is responsible for advancements leading to longer life expectancies for humans, but it has also improved healthcare delivery. In a healthcare system that is expected to be overwhelmed with older patients with multiple comorbidities and therefore resulting in higher costs to deliver healthcare services, innovative ways are needed to lessen this burden. PadInMotion offers a solution to this crisis.

            PadInMotion, a company based in New York City, was founded by three entrepreneurs: a cardiologist, an executive, and a finance professional (Padinmotion - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding, n.d.). The company’s goal was to make the hospital experience better, and in doing so, they developed the world’s first patient engagement system using tablet technology. Partnering with Samsung, PadInMotion offers preloaded tablets that provide personalized care, patient education, entertainment, digital food ordering, interpretation services, and health facility navigation (PadInMotion,n.d). PadInMotion also developed EZcall during the Pandemic to keep patients in hospitals and nursing homes connected to their loved ones. EZCall allows residents in nursing homes a quick, easy, and secure engagement with loved ones via one-touch connectivity (Marselas, 2020).

        The PadInMotion platform promises to improve patient experience, but it also enhances patient engagement. Patient education has been beneficial in educating patients about their health. The platform allows patients to receive education at both the healthcare facility and at home. Patients can download the app via the Apple Store or Google Play and use their patient access code to access health information. Patients can now receive their going-home instructions and any training they need on-demand and not feel overwhelmed by the stacks of paper that have been used since the 1980s. Patients can also share this information, which is especially important for older patients who rely on family to provide their care.

            The education the platform offers to patients can be very beneficial to the entire healthcare system. Complications often arise when patients and their families are not adequately informed about home-going instructions upon discharge.  This can result in re-hospitalizations and even death, costing the healthcare system billions of dollars.  Low medication adherence leads to 125,000 deaths each year and costs the U.S. healthcare system as much as $250 billion (Holland, 2020). Education is also provided when the provider has time, not necessarily when the patient and family can learn. As many patients are discharged with complex care needs, having this education readily available when needed is beneficial to both patients and families. According to their website, 90 percent of patients have reported that the platform helped educate them about their medical procedure; that they had no remaining questions following the use of the platform, and that the platform answered all their questions (PadInMotion, n.d.).

            Distrust in the U.S. Healthcare system is problematic and can be improved by providers using PadInMotion. The platform gives providers the ability to share electronic health records with patients, which is essential in maintaining accountability for providers and improving the provider-patient relationship.  When patients trust their provider, the visits are frequent and fewer resources are needed, whereas the opposite is true when patients distrust their provider. Allowing easy access to electronic health records for patients provides transparency of the patient’s medical condition. The patient education and interpretation program can also provide information that the patient can understand about their health condition, improving the provider-patient relationship and trust.

            Seniors are becoming more tech-savvy, especially as the baby boomers age; it is expected that they will be more demanding of technologies. PadInMotion offers healthcare providers an option to improve patient experience and improve patient engagement, leading to better health outcomes. The platform provides a seamless transition from healthcare facility to home with the ease of access to the medical information on the go. The platform is also HIPAA compliant, so providers and patients can feel secure in using it. The PadInMotion platform is currently only available in healthcare facilities located on the East Coast.  However, as PadInMotion receives more attention, the company will most likely branch out and be offered to all U.S. Health systems.

References

Holland, T. M. (2020, August 3). Good bedside manner: How PadInMotion improves patient experience. Samsung Business Insights. https://insights.samsung.com/2020/08/03/good-bedside-manner-how-padinmotion-improves-patient-experience-2/.

Marselas, K. (2020, November 4). PadInMotion offering HIPAA-compliant EZCall tool for SNFs - Products. McKnight's Long Term Care News. https://www.mcknights.com/news/products/padinmotion-offering-hipaa-compliant-ezcall-tool-for-snfs/.

Padinmotion - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding. Crunchbase. (n.d.). https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/padinmotion.

PadInMotion. (n.d.). https://www.padinmotion.com/.

Raveendran, H. (2020, August 20). Digital health solutions for a new era of care. Samsung Business Insights. https://insights.samsung.com/2020/08/20/digital-health-solutions-for-a-new-era-of-care/.

Siwicki, B. (2020, December 7). Mount Sinai-linked computer pads keep patients at home during COVID-19. Healthcare IT News. https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/mount-sinai-linked-computer-pads-keep-patients-home-during-covid-19.

About the Author

Stephanie Hayes has worked in long-term care for 19 years and currently serves as Clinical Reimbursement Case Manager for Heritage Ministries located in Chautauqua County, NY. She is also completing her M.H.A. degree at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. This blog post was adapted from her recent graduate “Gerontology” research

Exploring Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana Utilization by Older Adults

 

Exploring Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana Utilization by Older Adults

By: Lori L. Straley, LPN

After working in the healthcare field 20+ years, this writer has seen the pain & suffering of many residents of multiple nursing homes and assisted living facilities who could benefit from medical marijuana or full-strength THC cannabis oils being legalized on a federal level throughout the U.S.  In addition, insurance companies must be willing to cover the costs, as with other pharmaceutical medications.  Many research studies examine the ways in which medical marijuana is being effectively used in treating various disease processes, but most importantly for pain relief.  Those medical issues include: muscle tightness, inflammation, nerve pain, joint pain, osteoarthritis, cancer, muscle spasms as well as multiple sclerosis.  Among additional conditions: fibromyalgia, neuropathy, Parkinson’s related tremors, and seizures from epilepsy (Teitellbaum, 2019).  Suffering from untreated pain may cause insomnia, depression, anxiety, and related illness.  These conditions may all benefit by using medical marijuana.  

Many elderly patients think chronic pain is part of the aging process and they will just have to deal with it for the rest of their lives – that it is “normal” and “to be expected” as they grow older.  It is believed that pain goes underreported many times because this population of adults tends to be more stoic than younger generations.  The elderly population comprises the fastest growing group of people in the world’s population.  In 2019, about 16.5 % of the American population was 65 years old or over.  This figure is expected to reach 22 % by 2050 (Census.gov).  “In 2016, the population grew to be 49.2 million and represented 15.2% of the total population” (ACL, 2018).  Many of these older patients suffer daily from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, cancer pain, angina, ischemic pain, neuropathy pain, shingles, neuralgia, and gout just to name a few.  Pain may also be related to complications associated with deconditioning, gait abnormalities, accidents such as falling often, polypharmacy and cognitive decline. 

This author cares for elder patients who present with increased fat mass, decreased muscle mass, and decreased body water, which impact drug distribution (Bielowief et al., 2020).  Being in constant pain, patients do not get the needed sleep to keep the body renewing itself and making the collagen it needs to keep the bones from deteriorating and possibly breaking with falls, along with potential tissue damage and poor wound healing.  The eventual consequences of this pain include impaired activities of daily living (ADLs), ambulation, depression, and strain on the U.S.  health care economy (Manchikanti, 2009).  One study found that 66% of geriatric nursing home residents have chronic pain, but in almost half of these cases (34%), it was not detected by the treating physician (Sengstaken, 2009).  This same study indicated that many times the residents had been treated for depression when all they needed was pain relief.  Pain doctors need to screen for symptoms in older patients, such as burning, aching, soreness, tightness, discomfort, sharp, dull, and throbbing sensations.  They must take cues from the behaviors of patients such as crying, groaning, changes in gait or posture, or withdrawn/agitated behaviors.  The intensity, character, frequency, location, and duration of the pain should be examined by all healthcare workers.

This writer wishes to point out that in Ohio, the Ohio Nurse’s Association recognizes   medical cannabis as beneficial in certain patient treatment courses.  Their position statement indicates their recommendation that medical cannabis be relisted as a Schedule II substance in the hopes of more research, developing prescribing standards, as well as showing evidence-based proof in its therapeutic use.   Patients using the drug need to be protected from civil and criminal penalties on a federal level, as well as nursing homes & assisted living facilities being protected from losing their Medicaid & Medicare funding if a patient wishes to use medical marijuana (ONA, 2019).

After conducting extensive research into the use of medical marijuana with the older adult population, this author believes more research is needed in order to determine reasons that it has not been legalized – at the Federal level and only at certain state levels. As previously noted, there are numerous examples of how it can significantly help within the geriatric population. Stigmas associated with medical marijuana usage still exist, especially among elders.  After working eight years in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, this writer has had only one patient prescribed medical cannabis.  That patient also had her drug card, doctor, and dispensary account.  Research studies suggest many benefits from its use with older adults, and these findings must be recognized.

We have a new President, and all three branches of government are controlled by the Democrats.  House Democrats recently passed the MORE Act, which would federally legalize cannabis.  Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, has stated that the MORE Act will be his priority in the U.S. Senate going forward. He is hopeful of the eventual signing into law by President Biden. (Smith, 2021).

Based on research findings, this author recommends contacting those in Congress and advocating on behalf of elders who suffer with chronic pain, multiple medical conditions, and disease processes.  The lobbyists need to take the initiative to get this done with policymakers.  In addition, this writer recognizes the potential benefits for older adults and advocates getting medical marijuana legalized in all U.S. states.    Once the Bill is passed and then signed into law, the next step will be to get buy-in from insurance companies, paying for it as with other medications.   Hopefully, this will be one bill that becomes law, soon.

References

Administration for Community Living, (2018).  2017 “Profile of Older Americans”.  United States Census Bureau.  Retrieved from https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/Aging%20and%20Disability%20in%20America/2017OlderAmericansProfile.pdf.

Census.gov (2021).  “65 and Older Population Grow Rapidly as Baby Boomers Age”.  Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2020/65-older-population grows.html.

Manchikanti L., Boswell M. V., Singh V., et al. Comprehensive review of epidemiology, scope, and impact of spinal pain.  Pain Phys. 2009;12((4)): E35–70

Ohio Nurse’s Association (2019).  “ONA Position on Marijuana in Ohio”.  Retrieved from https://ohnurses.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Revised-Medical-Marijuana-Statement.pdf.

Sengstaken E. A., King S. A.  The problems of pain and its detection among geriatric nursing home residents.  J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009;41((5)):541–544.

Smith, A. (2021).  “Federal Cannabis Legalization: Policy Issues to be Addressed”.  Foley Hoag LLP.

Teitelbaum, J. (2019).  A Hemp oil, CBD, and Marijuana Primer: Powerful Pain, Insomnia, and Anxiety-relieving Tools!  Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 25(S2), 21–23.

About the Author

With a background in Business Management, Lori Straley, LPN serves Adams Heritage in Indiana.  In addition, she recently completed her MHA degree from Saint Joseph’s College / Maine.  This blog post was adapted from her graduate “Capstone” research.

Examining Depression as a Co-Factor in Death Rates in Long-Term Care Organizations during the COVID- 19 Pandemic

 

For several decades, long-term care organizations have faced tremendous hardships in maintaining adequate financial resources, staffing, satisfying CMS requirements during Quality Indicator Surveys and following compliance protocols. Considering the challenges already being faced, who would ever think that a pandemic, Covid-19, would wipe out populations from long-term care organizations throughout the United States? While this sounds accurate and is exactly what the media and government would like Americans to believe, could these deaths be related to other chronic diseases and mental disorders such as depression?  Or is Covid-19 solely responsible for the thousands of deaths among long- term care residents?

Loneliness and social isolation are distressful for many elders. According to Van Dyck et al. (2020), studies have shown that 33%-72% of the older adult population have reported feelings and symptoms of loneliness, and a majority of this percentage in residential homes. Loneliness fosters negative health outcomes such as cognitive decline, symptoms of anxiety, depression, morbidity, as well as mortality. Group activities were provided in long-term care settings to assist with social isolation such as outings, games and other physical activities. The benefits were often limited.  However, many residents looked forward to participating in these activities which were discontinued due to Covid-19 infection control protocols. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that consumers of long-term care services had the highest prevalence rates for depression particularly in nursing homes – an alarming 49% of residents who resided in nursing homes and 35% who resided in home health agencies during 2011 and 2012 (CDC, 2014). 

 

Research findings indicate a positive correlation between the leading causes of mental decline and physical decline due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Social isolation may lead to severe healthcare risks as a result of loneliness which negatively impacts many older adults. It is also evident that the prevalence of loneliness is very common in long-term care organizations, i.e. approximately twice the rate of loneliness in community populations. There are several deleterious side effects of loneliness which include the risk of depression, anxiety and impulsiveness. Other studies have also provided evidence that loneliness increases the risk for additional cognitive decline, re-occurring stroke, elevated blood pressure levels, advanced progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and mortality. Despite the fact that depression and loneliness may stem from social isolation, the severity of this issue is amplified. Many older adults’ health conditions were influenced mostly through their daily life activities along with medical interference. As a result of the Covid-19 social isolation protocols, there is evidence that the lack of exercise and inadequate physical movement lead to obesity, advanced frailty, increase in falls and declines in overall physical well-being. 

While this pandemic has devasted the U.S. within a matter of a few months, limited research has been conducted in terms of providing further clarification as to whether mental and physical decline are co-factors of deaths related to the Covid-19 epidemic. Mortality rates are being tallied and reported.  However, the prior mental and physical health conditions of these residents are not being acknowledged since their main diagnosis during time of death was Covid-19.

Implications for Health Administrators

The following questions were derived based on the data provided during this author’s  research.  Are health care administrators currently examining whether the Covid-19 social isolation protocols which evidently led to depression and increased physical decline weakened the immune system of these residents?  Was the shortage of employees and resources, such as PPE’s and masks, responsible for the increased spread of Covid-19 in long-term care organizations? Yes, it is a fact that various states have diverted from lockdowns and certain social isolation protocols have been lifted. However, in an effort to reduce exposure to long term care residents, visitors are prohibited. How do we as health care administrators effectively address the side effects of social isolation? Are video-chatting and phone calls helping these residents deal with depression or is it killing them slowly? In order to effectively find a solution to these questions, health care administrators need to immediately analyze the risks of mental decline individually at each LTC facility to determine what resources or assistance can be provided to help decrease the severity of depression and its adverse effects.

Many older adults who reside in long-term care organizations are exposed to different levels of risk due to the preexisting psychiatric, medical conditions and compromised immune functionality. It is important that healthcare administrators provide access to mental and social health services for residents during the pandemic. Resources should be provided which further evaluate their mental health and provide counseling, not only during early stages of mental decline but as a routine protocol. Furthermore, it is important that training and education related to psychosocial concerns are provided for health care professionals and employees in long-term care organizations as they have direct contact with residents. The significance of health care administrators working together to develop, identify and communicate risk efforts and circulate evidence -based resources related to mental health will significantly assist with finding solutions to help decrease residents’ susceptibility to the side effects of Covid-19 pandemic protocols. These protocols have serious implications for residents, and they continually limit social functionality. As healthcare administrators, the lack of resources is evident when trying to provide medical care while also managing the psychosocial needs of residents. Therefore, it is important that these questions and concerns are addressed in order to help decrease the prevalence of mental and physical decline rates of residents in long-term care organizations.

 

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Quick Stats: Percentage of Users of Long-Term Care Services with a Diagnosis of Depression, by Provider Type – National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, United States, 2011 and 2012.  Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6304a7.htm.

 

COVID-19 Nursing Home Data (2020). Retrieved from  https://data.cms.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-Nursing-Home-Data/bkwz-xpvg/

 

Van Dyck, L., Wilkins, K., Ouellet, J., Ouellet, G., & Conroy, M. (2020). Combating Heightened Social Isolation of Nursing Home Elders: The Telephone Outreach in the COVID-19 Outbreak Program.  Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7274114/

 

About the Author

 

 Kerissa Marcellin, a Certified Medical Assistant, serves as Case Manager with Heritage Human

 

Services / NY. She has recently completed requirements for her M.H.A. degree at Saint Joseph's

 

College, Maine.  This blog post was adapted from her graduate Capstone Research.