Transating_Cutting-Edge_Technology_into_Daily_Practice.pptVIP

Translating Cutting-Edge Technology into Daily Practice John Feather, PhD Executive Director and CEO American Society of Consultant Pharmacists The Promise of Technology Develop technologies appropriate to long term care pharmacy Help ASCP members and others in LTC to understand the benefits Implement the technology in a timely and cost effective way A Win-Win-Win More efficient use of technology leads to… More efficient use of clinical time in the facility, which leads to… Better patient care So Why Is This So Hard? Current demands outstrip future rewards Some resources are more precious than others It’s a niche market, but one size does not fit all Change is coming, but no one knows when or how More Challenges There is a huge gap between currently available technology and current capacity Not clear who will fund infrastructure Little sense of immediacy Communication needs to be more than sales If you build it, they still may not come Demand vs. Reward LTC personnel are overwhelmed and under staffed Acute shortage in all clinical areas There may be future improvements due to technology, but who is going to take care of the patients today? Training Demands A technology that requires extensive training is a challenge, since time spent on training is time taken from patient care. Technological sophistication of front line staff is not strong Staff turnover is between 75% and 150% per year - who will train the staff next month? Next year? Who will maintain/update tools? Precious Resource The most acute shortage in LTC is nursing time Anything that takes up nursing time is bad, even if it will lighten the load later Many technology pitches start with “once your nurses are fully trained on our system…” Niche Market Even institutional LTC is not all the same: large chains, regional chains, individual homes, for profit, not-for-profit, charitable Non nursing home care is even more diverse (assisted living, hospice, home) Real opportunities lie outside the institution