The complex US healthcare industry is often difficult for providers trying to manage their patient’s data. The arising complexity from regulatory compliance management, other data processing services and high costs due to poor data quality requires good help and management. Something that PointClickCare integrations can help with according to Langate. So, what exactly is this service, and how is it of help to healthcare providers?
Below is a closer look at PCC, as it’s also called. Let’s also see what platform could be designed or used to help here, take an in-depth look at the PointClickCare integration process, as well as discuss the benefits of integration.
Table of Contents
PCC and its purpose
So, PointClickCare, or PCC for short, could be considered as this super big cloud-based Electronic Health Record or EHR platform. It was specifically designed for the Long-term and Post-acute Care Market (LTPAC). But guess what? It’s not just limited to that now. It showed how amazingly it works for different niches and patients. A whole bunch of different spots in the healthcare world can get a serious improvement by integrating PointClickCare. And here are just a few examples to get you started:
- Senior living
- Care Retirement Communities
- Skilled nursing
- Acute care
This useful platform via automation helps providers in the planning of and actual care of patients/residents, giving out medication, billing and more. In addition to this, providers are given the ability to communicate and collaborate seamlessly.
As alluded to in the introduction, the complex nature of the US healthcare space makes the information difficult to manage. Data equals opportunity and any issues that occur as a result of human error can’t be afforded. This is why integrating with platforms like PCC helps, because they essentially automate the necessary processes, lowering the errors.
The integration process
Now that we know exactly what the platform does, we can begin talking about just how integration takes place. When it comes to PointClickCare, the process consists of about three phases which are as follows:
Phase 1: Data relay initiation
This begins with the platform receiving a letter of authorization from a client in which the party authorized as it pertains to the data relay is named. So first, you have to visit their market place. Afterward, PointClickCare gives out a project number to a project management office.
The phase then ends when credentials are sent by the PointClickCare data source. This is done to gain access to a specific database on the Secure File Transfer Protocol(SFTP) server. Clients can then share the information with the database administration group.
Phase 2: Data relay processing
The integration aspect of this process takes place here for the most part and involves multiple stages as well. These include the following:
The preliminary actions
These are a list of one-time actions needed to process. They are as follows:
- Retrieve the PointClickCare access credentials
- Enter the database access credentials on PointClickCare’s site
- Search through the source database
- Build a database similar to that on the client area of the PointClickCare server
- Have the initial backup applied
- Have the information concerning a new database setup transferred to a customer relationship manager to create master data
The taking of data
This involves clients taking platform data from a couple of external places, namely the internal and the PointClickCare SFTP. This looks like the following:
- The first upload: this involves client-servers initial uploading the platform databases
- Additional updates: this involves the uploading of changelogs for each database, while the client-server continues to utilize log-shipping tech
- Solely changelogs are received: this involves the database changes and not the whole thing
- The restoration of data: uses said changes and applies them to the current database
The restoration of data
With the data retrieved from the SFTP, servers refresh the database and use the changes to the current one. During this part, nothing can be read, which is why it should be speedy, otherwise, the integration won’t be successful.
The giving of data
Upon inquiry, data can be given out to servers by the client servers. The entire process involves the taking of platform databases, their storage, and restoration, ultimately leading to the giving of data.
Phase 3: Data analysis and the generation of reports
With the previous phase producing results, the next one involves BI(Business Intelligence) teams using them for reportage, based on client instructions. This can be presented through analytics or via custom reports.
Why it’s a good idea
The integration process indeed seems lengthy, but with it comes quite a few benefits. The automation it offers reduces manual data entry and therefore does the same for costly errors. In doing this, staff no longer worry about the time-consuming processes. Instead, they focus on their clients, therefore, improving overall work efficiency.
There’s also something to be said about security and compliance. Seeing as HIPAA compliance violations are to be taken seriously as well as other regulations, sorting this out is incredibly helpful to providers. If not, the fines could come back to hurt you.
Let’s also mention and emphasize that it’s really important to have information about the health problems, medicines or vital signs (like heart rate and blood pressure), weight and other physical parameters and abilities of people. The digital records that are accessible to employees and especially, those elders who are living in long-term care homes. This virtual information that is quickly accessible helps to plan and create medical studies for different groups of patients. Summing up, the solution will help with:
- a distinctive range of web-based solutions and tailor clients needs to assist in the long-term care
- overseeing every aspect of patients care from start to finish
- different services, catering to a broad spectrum of facilities
- ranging groups from individual home care to the largest operators
Therefore, integration of PointClickCare’s Software as a Service (SaaS) will help you or your company solve clinical issues, billing and administrative functions. You will know how the integration can serve to optimize all of the processes, offer the quality of care and boost operational efficiency. This will also enhance staff productivity and job satisfaction.
Final thoughts
It’s fair to say that the digital world is spreading across all sectors and the healthcare space is moving in that direction as well. The copious amounts of patient data as well as compliance-related materials can’t be handled manually, which is why the PointClickCare integration process is necessary. Its ability to automate all these areas is convenient and allows the professionals to do their job as opposed to focusing on the logistics.
There’s no doubt that this particular platform is here to stay. As the need for automation continues to grow in the healthcare sector, so will the spread of the PCC, after which its benefits will be felt.
