In a healthcare landscape evolving rapidly through digital transformation, connected care has emerged as a critical cornerstone, particularly in hospice and post-acute care settings. Cara Abbott, founder of Betterleave, and Sara Nigro, VP of Partnerships at Better RX, recently shared compelling insights on the transformative power of seamless family communication and medication management.
Why Connected Care Matters
"Connected care isn't just clinical—it's emotional and compassionate," Cara Abbott emphasizes. Sara Nigro concurs, highlighting empathy as the North Star guiding innovation in hospice care. Yet, shockingly, 88% of family caregivers lack formal education or training to navigate complex medication and caregiving tasks.
Cara Abbott shared a deeply personal experience that many caregivers resonate with: "When my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, managing her medications became a source of overwhelming confusion." Such firsthand stories underscore a prevalent issue—caregiver preparedness.
Improving Caregiver Preparedness Through Technology
Data suggests that enhancing caregiver education significantly improves outcomes. Nigro cited a 20% increase in caregiver preparedness when caregivers receive timely, digestible educational content, such as short videos and actionable insights, instead of dense admission packets. Abbott points out,
"Nobody reads those 50-page admission booklets."
Instead, Betterleave delivers bite-sized information through proactive, HIPAA-compliant text messaging, making vital details instantly accessible and actionable.
Reducing Crisis Management Through Automation
Medication mismanagement is another critical issue in hospice care. Nigro highlighted that unclear medication guidelines directly lead to increased after-hours calls, overwhelming hospice nurses and staff. She noted that Better RX's optimized medication ordering system cuts 99% of pharmacy-related calls and enables medications to be ordered in just three minutes.
This ease-of-use and efficiency can't be overstated. Nigro describes Better RX as a "quality of life tool," directly correlating improved clinical workflows with increased nurse satisfaction—98% of nurses reported higher job satisfaction after adopting the technology.
Quantifiable Impact and Transparency
Real-time feedback isn't a luxury; it's essential. Betterleave's technology enables providers to capture and analyze feedback instantaneously, leading to a 25% reduction in after-hours calls (as evidenced by Lloyd Wilson, CEO of Sonder Hospice). Additionally, hospices implementing these advanced communication strategies see up to a 3-point increase in CAHPS scores within six months.
Nigro stresses transparency, asserting the industry's need for clear, real-time visibility of medication costs and usage, breaking away from outdated pharmacy benefit models.
"We call it the Amazon effect—transparency in pricing and immediate insights are no longer optional."
Creating a Competitive Advantage
Adopting these advanced communication and medication management technologies provides hospices with a distinct competitive edge. Providers leveraging Better RX and Betterleave technologies demonstrate superior patient and family experiences, directly improving referral relationships and market reputation. As Abbott states, "All these tools make you the preferred hospice of choice."
Watch the full webinar
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