Residential care facilities represent living options for individuals, mainly seniors, who require different levels of support. These facilities can include assisted living, supportive housing, long-term care homes, nursing homes, and personal care homes.
All of these facilities must adhere to specific standards and pass regular inspections, which have never been as important as during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, in May 2020, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported that more than 80% of all COVID-19 fatalities in Canada originated from long-term care facilities and retirement homes.
Value of Regular Inspections
Put simply, the reason why care facilities of any kind need to be inspected on a regular basis is to ensure they comply with all regulatory requirements. These homes can be inspected in any of the following categories:
- Hygiene and control of infectious diseases
- Care and supervision of the residents
- Medication
- Licensing
- Food services and nutrition
- Policies and procedures
- Equipment, furnishings, and physical facilities
- Various programs
- Records and reporting
- Staffing, and more.
Inspections can be scheduled or conducted as the result of a complaint made against a care facility. All facilities of this kind must be licensed and provide the appropriate level of care and support to their residents, so these inspections are critical not only to the well-being of residents but also the facilities themselves.
Self-Inspection Software
To prepare for the scheduled inspection of your care facility and ensure everything is in working order, you can benefit from audit/inspection software such as The Checker Software.
By using this type of cloud-based app, you will successfully avoid piles of paperwork and complex spreadsheets. The app can be used on any device connected to the internet, regardless of whether it has an Android, iOS, or Windows operating system.
Software for internal inspections brings the following benefits:
Minimized admin work. Through the power of customized checklists, general admin work is decreased. You will be able to conduct more frequent self-inspections that won’t require so much time and effort.
No personnel training. Most everyone in the workforce today knows how to use modern digital tools, therefore minimal training should be required!
Real-time monitoring. A critical advantage of audit/inspection software is that you can monitor every aspect of your care facility at any time. You will have access to analytics and data insights, as well as notifications that will alert you to compliance issues before an inspector arrives. You also have the option of storing data from the past to have a record of inspection and audit activities.
Standardized processes. If everyone on your team uses the same checklists and standards, you can easily compare trends among different departments and locations—enabling you to improve your facility’s standards.
Takeaway
Ensuring that your care facility is operating under all the regulations and standards is essential to providing good care to all of your residents, especially in these uncertain times of a global health crisis. Audit/inspection software will go a long way in helping you standardize all your processes and making sure that your facilities are clean, safe, and meeting all inspection requirements without fail.
To learn more about how The Checker can help with the management of your care facility, please get in touch with us.
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