Caretracker Start-up

[sls0703]

We are getting ready starting the implementation of caretracker and use totally a paper system now of trackers and such. One major concern is that currently our Nurses do the ADL tracking and Moods/Behaviors and with system the aides will now be responsible. Any ideas/comments/or suggestions with this process with those of you who are currently doing it. It could be even those "if I would have known stories". I am just trying to troubleshoot things I need to be doing now instead of waiting for "d" day which is March 5th. Any problems with the start up? What buttons did you start with? What forms were you able to get rid of? There are some forms like our daily skin checks, turn and repositioning forms, and frequent montioring forms that I am not sure if I can get rid of. I realize I have some training to do with the staff and plan on starting that right away.....

Thanks....

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I had CareTracker in my last building and I loved it! We did away with most of the paper forms the CNAs were using. On CareTracker, there is a place to document turning q 2 hours, routine skin care q shift, daily skin checks by the CNAs, weekly skin checks by the nurses, behaviors, BMs, meal percentages, I and O...almost anything you can think of. We gave everyone in the building including the social workers, housekeepers and therapy staff access to the care tracker system. We had many many residents with behavior issues and the thought was that everyone would be able to document the behaviors and we would get a higher rate of reimbursement on our MMQs. There is a system that connects with the care tracker...electronic everything...EMAR, ETAR, enurses notes. I left before that system went live but I think it would be great.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

I would strongly suggest that the CNA's do the ADL care in the caretracker, not the nurses. From my experience, the CNA's are usually way more accurate (as long as they have been trained). My next suggestion is to train, train and then re-train your CNA's. Do not assume they will get in on the first lesson. I usually end up standing at the kiosk with them and "helping" until I am sure they understand. Good luck. I have also loved this program.

[BRemus]

my facility uses caretracker and while the primary documentation of ADLs is done by the aides everyone (nurses, aids, administration, dietary, housekeepers) is expected to chart. caretracker is designed to be a real time charting system so if the nurse goes in to say give meds or care for a wound and ends up helping the resident toilet, perform bed mobility, transfer or anything and they wait to tell the aides then the information could get forgotten. Charting in caretracker of course is only as good as the person charting. I would keep paper documentation for toileting, and vitals for a couple of months until you are sure all the kinks are out of the system. if caretracker is down due to internet issues or weather you will not get your documentation. the system is a computer and has flaws it has lost documentation at my facility. The system is a wonderful tool when used properly. constant training is a must as people tend to get lazy and dont always read the question thoroughly. I wish you luck with the transition and hope that things go smoothly