Best Practice Guidance
Human Interaction with Technology in Dementia

Guidance

Developers of EPRElectronic Patient Record An electronic set of information about a single patient systems for dementia care should consider including a function allowing for the automated generation of graphs to show trends in data, and an accompanying function to prompt staff about changes in a resident’s condition.   In addition, functions allowing for the automated generation of care plans from assessment data, and alerts to prompt staff to create or update a new document in the EPRElectronic Patient Record An electronic set of information about a single patient may be of value to nursing homes. Interoperability should be a goal for the future.

Explanation and Examples

Automatic generation of graphs displaying trends in a resident’s condition increases visibility of changes, allowing staff to more rapidly identify and respond to changing care needs. For example, graphs showing changes in weight, which can commonly affect individuals with dementia. Furthermore, through the incorporation of artificial intelligenceThe use of computer technology to make computers and other machines think and do things in the way that people can. (Abbreviated to AI) (AIArtificial Intelligence The use of computer technology to make computers and other machines think and do things in the way that people can.), some EPRElectronic Patient Record An electronic set of information about a single patient systems are able to analyse resident data and provide alerts to staff about potential risk factors. For instance, alerts to warn staff about potential skin breakdown, important for those residents with dementia receiving end-of-life care, who may be spending considerable amounts of time in bed and have reduced fluid intake. Automatic generation of care plans from assessment data could save staff time in administration, as well as automatic alerts incorporated into the EPRElectronic Patient Record An electronic set of information about a single patient that prompt staff to update care plans, meaning optimal care can be planned and provided to individuals with dementia. Finally, EPRElectronic Patient Record An electronic set of information about a single patient systems should be interoperable, so that staff can access and communicate relevant information securely over the internet with external healthcare providers, instead of using paper records.