Why You Need EHRs

In Senior Living

By Natalie Mahn on May 24, 2023 in Senior Living

Did you know nearly one-third of all U.S. adults take five or more medications regularly? It’s not surprising when you realize roughly 6,800 prescription medications — and countless over-the-counter drugs — are available across the nation.

And with medication use growing due to the number of medications available, there’s an increased risk of medication-related errors, especially in senior living.

This inspired us to put together a detailed white paper that highlights a solution for mitigating that risk: electronic health records (EHRs). Refreshed with statistics and a wealth of information, the white paper shares how senior living operators — and care staff — can prevent medication errors, enhance resident services and more.

Medication errors: a macro view

In the white paper — The Importance of EHRs in Senior Living — you’ll find a breakdown of the different types of medication errors, with a focus on adverse drug events (ADEs). Then you’ll see why seniors are the highest-risk age group for ADEs, with supporting research like the following: 

• More than four in ten older adults take five or more prescription medications, triple the rate from twenty years ago — making them more vulnerable to ADEs based on the sheer volume of medications they’re taking
• Older adults are twice as likely than younger people to visit the emergency room due to an ADE, and seven times more likely to be hospitalized after an ER visit as a result

So, if ADEs are common among older adults, what can senior living operators do to help? How can they ensure residents stay safe and medication errors become a rare occurrence? The answer is simple: through the use of technology. More specifically, EHRs.  

Technology: the key to oversight

Historically, medication management involved reading pill bottles and relying on local pharmacies to flag drug interactions. Prescriptions were often self-administered or administered by family members. But progressively complex health issues, combined with the prevalence of medication use and abuse, necessitate more involved oversight.

For residents in senior living communities, the responsibility has largely shifted to healthcare staff — guided by the federal government (mainly, incentive programs for the meaningful use of EHRs).

Since these incentive programs were introduced, EHRs have become widely adopted across senior living organizations. And as a result, medication errors have been dramatically reduced. The white paper shares how solutions like Yardi EHR can prevent anywhere from 28% to 95% of ADEs — as when staff has access to complete and accurate resident records, residents receive better care.

The complete clinical package

The importance of EHRs is broken down further in the white paper — you’ll see how the benefits go beyond medication management and mitigating risks. Especially when you opt for a solution like Yardi EHR, which offers next-generation point-of-care charting and clinical intelligence.

The white paper delves into it all, even touching on the future of EHRs in senior living. Ready to start reading?

Explore the white paper

If you’re curious about the power of EHRs beyond what’s covered above, read the entire white paper — The Importance of EHRs in Senior Living. If you’d like a personalized demo of Yardi EHR, don’t hesitate to reach out to team Yardi!