The Kradle Care Quality App in Nursing Essay

Introduction

Care quality is an integral aspect of the work of any nurse and other healthcare providers today. It is required to meet clients, understand their needs and expectations, and produce necessary services. In the UK, many care facilities cooperate with patients and their families and offer residential, nursing, palliative, and mental health care. Sanctuary Care (n.d.b) is a famous provider of care homes that has been delivering help for over 20 years. I am lucky to be its employee and complete my functions as a nursing associate, like assisting patients and their families or recording clinical observations. This company has invested in technology to reduce the shortages of paper care plans, find more time for residents, and improve service quality. Instead of using traditional paper-based methods that introduce the baseline of the current service practice, Sanctuary Care (n.d.a) chooses an electronic care planning application, Kradle, to secure and update information and promote person-centered care. In this essay, I intend to provide an analysis of Kradle, a quality improvement app that affects my current nursing associate practice at Sanctuary Care, and measure the outcome it has on patient care.

Body of Work

Combination of the Improvement and the Past Method

Technological progress has considerably shaped all spheres of human work, including the healthcare industry. In care homes, much attention is paid to providing information about care and its relation to care quality and continuity (Adereti & Olaogun, 2018). Nurses are responsible for assessing patients, their conditions, and their needs, sharing their observations, and reporting to doctors. Such cooperation allows sharing personal and clinical information and developing appropriate care plans for patients. For a long period, documentation of nursing processes has included paper-based forms with individually made narrative notes and flow sheets (as cited in Adereti & Olaogun, 2018). This traditional method did not require technological intelligence and was focused on gathering information about nutrition, sleep quality, personal hygiene, and clinical signs that might influence a treatment plan (Curtis, 2020). Before the introduction of a bespoke care app, Sanctuary Care (n.d.a.) used paper-based forms, which was effective and suitable for that moment. Employees knew what information was critical for their services and how to record it properly.

However, the paper-based method that was used had its disadvantages, promoting the importance of change and improvement. In most cases, the company admitted the challenge of short staffing and the necessity to divide many responsibilities between the same individuals. Previous care plans helped staff members duly support patients and manage personal and organizational problems (Curtis, 2020). Still, it was hard to neglect the achievements in the care industry anymore. Digital care plans were associated with reduced paper costs, space management (no need to store all plans physically), and data search speed (Curtis, 2020). In several months, Sanctuary Care (n.d.a) investigated the idea of electronic databases and defined its paper care plans as “old-hat” to replace them with a more efficient method to collect data. Kradle was not another innovation to try but a reasonable and a well-thoughtful decision to give more time for patient-employee cooperation.

Care Delivery Systems

Sanctuary Care does not find it obligatory to participate in complex processes and compete with other care homes in terms of their technical background and options. All care delivery systems are based on the organizational ethos of “enriching lives,” meaning quality enhancement, happiness, and fulfillment (Sanctuary Care, n.d.b). Kradle is a care quality app, the purpose of which is to create an opportunity for carers to update residents’ care plans, maintain security, and save time (Sanctuary Care, n.d.a). It means that the app itself does neither enrich human life nor offer a new service. Its idea is to find more time and space for people to develop and use interpersonal relations, which boosts communication, improves care quality, and increases patient and employee satisfaction.

Paper-based approaches are unique because carer providers are able to make notes and underline some specific aspects of a case or characteristics of a patient. Still, the volume of information is extensive, and nurses have to spend much time to find the necessary point and apply it to their practice. Akzu-Zaheya et al. (2017) explain attempts to obtain data from paper-based records as labor-intensive. One of the most beneficial issues of digital apps is the easiness of finding information within a short period. It does not take much to share findings with another team member because this app is the only platform for a care home.

Change Implementation

Any organization, even if it consists of true, devoted professionals, needs some preparation and education before change implementation. Employees have to understand what kind of work should be done, what their responsibilities are, and why new requirements or conditions are necessary. In Sanctuary Care’s case, the use of Kradle was an expected intervention due to evident technological progress. The staff investigated the conditions under which care was offered and found out that they needed more time for their residents (Sanctuary Care, 2020). The essential condition for change was a partnership between the Sanctuary Group’s Technology Team and the staff with more than 50 years’ care experience (Sanctuary Care, 2020). It was important to divide responsibilities and manage people with high-quality leadership in order to succeed in this type of implementation. Communication helped clarify not only “what” should be achieved behind the change but also “why” all those steps were obligatory.

Clinical engagement and patient participation could not be ignored in this process. On the one hand, the staff had to communicate with patients and gather information to check how much time was spent and if it was effective. Patients might share their opinions and leave feedback about changes in their cooperation with the care home employees. On the other hand, the whole Sanctuary Care team should accept this change and understand how to exchange, update, and store information. Documentation content must be complete and accurate to reflect reality for multi-professional use by all care providers (Akhu‐Zaheya et al., 2018). Finally, this bespoke care app is based on constant elaboration, which means feedback from the staff and identification of the areas for improvement (Sanctuary Care, n.d.a). Technical skills, practical intelligence, and creativity became integral issues in this change implementation process.

Change Evaluation and Measurement

Sanctuary Care did not introduce a specific system to evaluate and measure the change statistically. However, its quantitative assessment that was presented via personal interviews and observations proves that Kradle is more than just a simple app or an obligatory requirement for the organization. Employees are honored and privileged to be on this journey and see the outcomes of this achievement (Sanctuary Care, n.d.a). Patients demonstrate their positive attitudes toward the possibility to communicate with the staff and spend less time on reporting. Nothing is needed except an iPhone in a pocket to store information and share it with other employees in less than a minute.

The introduction of Kradle is a company-wide change that establishes new rules for the staff and clients. Therefore, it has to be properly managed and measured through specific metrics to identify its success or failure at different levels. Employee engagement and feedback are crucial for the program because people share what they know and think about Kradle. Interviews are conducted to track employees’ attitudes, and an increased number of positive opinions prove Kradle’s accomplishment. Performance improvement is another metric, the measurement of which demonstrates the worth of the program. Its benefits like fast recording, description of activities, and details of care planning are available at the touch (Sanctuary Care, n.d.a). Speed of execution, proficiency levels, and change understanding are all high for the chosen care home, showing the appropriateness of digital care planning over paper-based methods.

Ethical and Legal Issues of Kradle

Sanctuary Care, as well as many nursing homes in the country, aims at conducting its business and care services in an ethical and legally responsible manner. The organization makes decisions, takes economic issues into consideration, and respects social and environmental rights. The creation of Kradle does not restrict any liabilities, and employees together with patients share their agreement to implement this technological innovation as a regular care activity. Patients have already signed specific documents to confirm the right of the care home to store and exchange personal information. Kradle is a step that improves the quality and speed of gathering information about people, not a step that needs more personal data. Therefore, no ethical or legal issues are neglected in relation to this innovative app for Sanctuary Care home.

Discussion

Effects of the Change of Sanctuary Care

The initial goal for implementing Kradle at Sanctuary Care was to improve the quality of care and promote certain organizational shifts. This change was effectively achieved because all employees admitted the possibility of saving their time and exchange patient information quickly. The offered bespoke care app is now a unique opportunity to update care plans and to replace time-consuming paperwork with simple, technologically advanced activities (Sanctuary Care, n.d.a). There is no need to find more space to store patients’ records and check if their confidentiality guarantees are met. Kradle is a part of the digital revolution in which Sanctuary Care wants to participate. The team has successfully developed a number of skills to work with the necessary technical devices. Nurses and doctors are able to save all the necessary records and get enough time to communicate with patients, pay more attention to their conditions, and check the characteristics of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment plans.

Kradle is not only a new care planning assistant for Sanctuary Care but an outcome of the work of several departments. As soon as one group of people (the staff) gets a chance of recording at the point of care, another group of people (patients) demonstrates their increased satisfaction with the offered services and cooperation. The developers of the app managed to understand the needs of patients and employees and met their expectations from different perspectives. Care has to be all-around, including medicine interventions, the recognition of past and present health problems, emotional support, socialization, and cooperation. Kradle is a perfectly introduced change, meaning that nothing should be done differently. Patients and employees have got what they needed – more time free from paperwork. Still, all the necessary records could be made properly, and care plans are developed as per patients’ needs and the home’s resources.

Effects of the Change on My Role

As a member of the Sanctuary Care team, I am satisfied with Kradle and the changes this innovation has brought to the care home. One of the most evident benefits of this change is access to additional opportunities for patients and nurses. For a long period, it was necessary to make notes, communicate with patients, and complete a number of samples to store information. Today, Kradle creates multiple opportunities that contribute to treatment care plans during communication. I like the idea of being able to talk to patients, ask personal questions, and make their days more interesting. Not all seniors can contact their family members and get a portion of support and understanding of what when they want. A nurse is a central figure in most caring processes, and I understand that my role depends on patients, the resources of Sanctuary Care, and the qualities I can and should develop.

Nursing associates are new members of the nursing team, but their contributions to the healing process are great. First, it is necessary to remember that any nurse needs to provide care and treatment for all patients, regardless of their age, gender, or ethnicity. In the UK, this role is highly appreciated because it allows discussing and sharing information, observing and reporting on patients’ behaviors and conditions, and performing evaluations, relying on personal knowledge and skills. Secondly, nurses have to manage their time and resources rationally. Finally, it is never too late to study and obtain new qualities, and the use of technological devices is a step up in development. My role as a nursing associate has undergone positive changes with Kradle. I began talking with patients more frequently and discover enough interesting information about their lives, which may be applied in the creation of new treatment plans. I cannot be an author of organizational or technological revolution, but I have to be a part of this progress in my team. Therefore, I find Kradle a necessary tool for Sanctuary Care to provide patients with high-quality services and care.

Conclusion

Sanctuary Care is a team of professional nurses and caregivers who have to cooperate with seniors. This care home has already proved itself as a high-quality facility with well-defined organizational culture and leadership. Kradle is an innovation that influences care and the nursing profession in a variety of ways. The possibility to develop and introduce this program tells about the level of professionalism and intentions for self-improvement. In brief, Kradle is a care planning app that helps the Sanctuary Care team update care plans, protect personal information, and save time. The worth and benefits are endless because each new opportunity is a chance to improve care. Kradle is not difficult to use, and the staff does not need much time to learn the change and implement it properly. The future seems to be brighter and more professional with this application. Its suitability is evident for Sanctuary Care because employees gather and exchange information without withdrawing their direct responsibilities. It does not matter if a nurse, an administrator, or a doctor uses this technological innovation, the outcome remains the same – more free time to spend with patients.

References

Adereti, C. S., & Olaogun, A. A. (2018). Use of electronic and paper‐based standardized nursing care plans to improve nurses’ documentation quality in a Nigerian teaching hospital. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 30(4), 219-227. Web.

Akhu‐Zaheya, L., Al‐Maaitah, R., & Bany Hani, S. (2018). Quality of nursing documentation: Paper‐based health records versus electronic‐based health records. Journal of Clinical nursing, 27(3-4), 578-589. Web.

Curtis, E. L. (2020). Digital care planning: Benefits of digital care plans vs paper. Birdie. Web.

Sanctuary Care. (n.d.a). Kradle – An innovative care planning app. Web.

Sanctuary Care. (n.d.b). We are welcoming new residents at a Sanctuary Care home near you. Web.

Sanctuary Care. (2020). Sanctuary Care shortlisted for two national awards. Sanctuary Care. Web.