From documents to decisions: Making resident data actionable
Healthcare interoperability has advanced significantly in recent years. More post-acute care providers can now receive electronic resident records from hospitals and other healthcare organizations. This strengthens data sharing during admissions and care transition handoffs.
And that progress matters. Timely access to resident information can support continuity of care, improve coordination between providers, and empower smarter care decisions.
As interoperability becomes more common, organizations are increasingly focusing on how exchanged information can become easier to access, review, and apply within everyday workflows. In this blog we’ll take a closer look at:
Receiving records is only the beginning
For many years, interoperability efforts focused on one primary goal, enabling resident information to move digitally between healthcare organizations.
But receiving a resident record is only one part of the process.
A record may contain the information a provider needs. However, staff often need to review multiple documents to find key details, such as diagnoses, allergies, demographics, medications, resident history, and care notes.
As interoperability has matured, organizations have begun focusing on more than connectivity alone. They’re also looking at how staff can review and use exchanged information in their daily workflows.
When information is easier to access, providers have a more complete clinical history for informed care.
Digital access doesn’t always mean usable access
Traditional discussions about interoperability often focus on whether information can be exchanged between systems. Connectivity remains essential, but it’s only part of the picture.
Receiving electronic documentation is only the first step. Staff also need access to the data within those records so they can use it in their daily workflows.
The healthcare industry continues to make progress in health information exchange. According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 70% of U.S. hospitals exchange information electronically. Yet, only 42% of clinicians routinely use externally sourced resident information at the point of care.
This contrast highlights an important challenge. Staff may still spend valuable time searching records for the information they need.
As interoperability continues to evolve, the conversation is expanding from data exchange to data usability.
When the information is there but hard to use
Staff may review documents from multiple external sources and compare information across records.
They may need to reconcile duplicate entries, identify inconsistencies, and determine which information is most relevant.
In some cases, key details must be entered into the EMR manually.
For admissions, nursing, clinical, and MDS teams, these activities often occur alongside many other responsibilities. Admissions professionals are evaluating referrals. Clinicians are preparing for new residents while managing current care needs. MDS coordinators are reviewing documentation that may support coding and reimbursement processes.
Electronic records improve access to information. However, the opportunity isn’t in obtaining more information, but in making existing information easier to access and apply.
What makes resident data actionable?
Actionable resident data organizes information in a way that makes it easier to review and use.
Teams can view resident information from multiple sources in one place. They can then review relevant data within their existing workflows and quickly identify available information and potential gaps.
In many cases, organizations already have access to substantial amounts of resident data. The challenge is often how quickly staff can find and use the details that matter most.
The key difference isn’t the amount of information being received. Instead, it’s the speed and ease with which that information can be retrieved, understood, and applied. What matters most is how quickly you can access the right details at the right moment, connect them to the task at hand, and turn them into effective action.
From documents to decisions
Easier access to resident information can support several important operational and clinical processes across post-acute care organizations.
- Supporting faster admissions and care transitions
Admissions teams often need timely access to resident information when evaluating referrals and preparing for incoming residents.
When information is easier to understand, staff can start assessments sooner and spend less time searching through documentation. This can help support more efficient admissions workflows and smoother transitions between care settings.
- Giving clinicians more time to care
Post-acute care teams balance administrative responsibilities, workforce demands, and resident care priorities every day.
Teams can focus more on resident care and care coordination instead of reviewing documents.
This approach can help support improved efficiency while allowing clinicians to focus time where it matters most.
- Supporting clinical decision-making
Access to comprehensive resident information remains important during transitions of care.
When clinicians can quickly access key resident information, they can better understand a resident’s needs.
That visibility can support timely care decisions and care-planning efforts throughout the resident journey.
- Supporting documentation and reimbursement processes
Documentation plays an important role in coding, reimbursement, quality initiatives, and audit preparation.
Easier access to diagnoses and clinical documentation can support MDS workflows, reimbursement processes, and documentation requirements.
While outcomes vary by organization, easier and timely access to relevant information can help reduce the administrative effort associated with finding and organizing supporting documentation.
- Making interoperability more meaningful
Successful interoperability involves more than delivering a resident record.
Organizations are receiving more information and looking for ways to put it to use.
The value of interoperability increases when teams can efficiently review and use the information they receive. In that environment, exchanged information becomes a more practical resource for supporting admissions, care transitions, clinical activities, and documentation processes. When care teams efficiently review and use the information from the prior stay, they make informed, real-time clinical decisions.
The next chapter of interoperability is usability
As information exchange becomes more common, organizations are placing greater emphasis on usability. The focus is shifting from simply receiving records to helping staff efficiently access and apply the information within them.
More usable resident data can help teams find information faster and spend less time searching through records. It can also support admissions, care transitions, clinical decision-making, documentation, and reimbursement workflows.
Easier access to resident information helps providers spend more time delivering exceptional care.
Explore Exchange Data Manager
MatrixCare Exchange Data Manager is designed to help organizations move beyond electronic document exchange by making external resident information easier to access and use within existing MatrixCare workflows.
By helping transform resident records into actionable resident data, Exchange Data Manager can support more efficient admissions and care transitions while reducing the time spent searching through documentation.
With greater visibility into diagnoses, allergies, demographics, resident history, and supporting clinical information, organizations can improve staff efficiency, strengthen clinical decision-making, and support documentation, MDS, and reimbursement workflows.
Learn how your organization can make better use of resident information.
Michele Spadola
Michele is a Senior Product Manager in Interoperability at MatrixCare, specializing in Senior Living and Long-Term Care (SLTC). Since joining MatrixCare in 2016, she has leveraged her 17 years of experience in the healthcare industry, which began with a primary care physicians group before focusing on SLTC. With over 30 years of professional experience across various industries, Michele has developed a strong expertise in managing certification and integration projects, leading to her current role in product management.
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