On World Patient Safety Day 2024, the focus is on ‘Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety’, emphasising how crucial accurate and timely diagnoses are in safeguarding patient wellbeing and enhancing overall health outcomes.
One significant way we are making strides in improving patient safety at AgeCare Care Homes, is through our adoption of the PainChek App. An innovative tool that combines AI-driven analysis with user-guided features to accurately and consistently identify pain, creating personalised pain profiles that deliver improved care outcomes.
This technology allows our carers to accurately measure pain levels, which has proven especially important for our non-verbal residents who cannot speak or describe what they are feeling.
It offers a reliable way to track changes over time, enabling a more precise and personalised approach to pain management.
Since implementing PainChek, we have been able to assess and treat pain more effectively. Recently, two of our residents at Muscliff Nursing Home, who had been regularly receiving paracetamol were assessed using facial recognition to record their pain scores. We were able to accurately gauge their pain levels and notice that their previous pain management plan was no longer effective.
This proactive approach enables carers to adapt pain management plans accordingly, improving the overall wellbeing for our residents, and provides the staff with a sense of confidence and accomplishment in knowing that the care being provided is making a difference.
Supporting Caregivers in Delivering Better Care
For our team, PainChek has been a valuable tool in identifying pain that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The app supports team members to assess pain and understand distressed behaviour of residents, that can be expressed in non-verbal residents experiencing discomfort.
Recently, during a routine inspection by BCP Council and the CQC, inspectors were impressed with how effectively PainChek is integrated into our daily care routines.
A Commitment to Patient Safety
As we mark World Patient Safety Day, we are proud to showcase how technology like PainChek is enhancing our ability to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care to our residents- committed to our vision in transforming and leading quality, services and innovation in the social care sector in the UK.
By improving the way we diagnose and manage pain, particularly for our most vulnerable non-verbal residents, we are making impactful strides in patient safety, ensuring we are providing the best possible care and living experiences for all of our residents.
We encourage other care facilities to explore how technology can support their efforts in improving patient outcomes and ensuring a safer, more responsive care environment, contributing to a higher standard of care overall.
