By Susan Saldibar

I know I talk a lot about “back in the day,” but seriously so much has changed. For instance, how my sales team out in the field would take notes. All the best stuff never made it into our sales database. Either they forgot about the little (and significant) details, or just didn’t want to take the time. And I don’t blame them.

But now we have apps. And oh, how our data world has changed.

Here’s a great example. You know those little things your CNAs notice about residents? I’m talking about those micro insights that used to walk out the door with them every night?

There is now an app that makes it easy to record them, while they’re still with the resident.

Rob Lewis, founder of Fynn (a Foresight partner), sat down recently to chat with Steve Moran about his AI-driven app with an algorithm that organizes seemingly insignificant bytes of data about a resident into powerful stories that can be used to improve health outcomes. (Watch the interview here.)

First, think about all that little stuff one of your CNAs might notice about resident Mary, the stuff they normally wouldn’t think twice about because, on its own, it might appear inconsequential. But now …

Imagine that same CNA being able to quickly open an app on their phone, hit a couple buttons, and record:

  • Something Mary did that she doesn’t usually do
  • Something she said or expressed that raised an eyebrow
  • The way Mary looked or reacted that was slightly off

Now imagine aggregating all these insights over days, weeks, or months.

What if you were able to detect an emerging health issue that, if left unchecked, just might land Mary in the hospital? Or an emotional issue that, if not addressed, could lead to unfairly blaming your hardworking CNA when it was another issue with Mary altogether?

What’s an app like that worth? Better outcomes? Residents who stay longer? Happier employees?

According to Rob, Fynn does all the above because it creates a more “intelligent” workflow for caregivers — and more engaged families, who use the Fynn Companion app to get their own window on how their loved one is doing.

If you’re thinking all this must cost a fortune, so did Steve.

But in fact, the app is free to communities. The only chargeable item is for Fynn Companion, the family app that lets families check in 24/7 on how their loved one is doing. Did they go down to dinner? Did they participate in an activity? Did they eat their food? All this insight, according to Rob, for about the cost of a latte per month.

Your care team knows a heck of a lot of stuff about your residents. Most of it goes unrecorded. 

As Rob puts it, “Give them a voice, a way to record what’s in their heads.” Maybe instead of being blamed, they become heroes for spotting something no one else noticed. Maybe you spot something that can be treated before it gets serious. Wouldn’t you want to know that? Wouldn’t families want to know that?

The answer is you would and you should. And your next step is to check out this app and how it works, which you can do here.