Just like any other industry, staff productivity is a concern in the care home sector. Professional caregivers are often overwhelmed by the sheer responsibility that they have to shoulder while the residents often feel that they need personal attention. However, things are not all that gloomy. By doing a few things differently care home staff can be more efficient and productive.
Here are a few ways to increase staff productivity and get the most out of the workday:
1. Provide regular training: Making a regular investment in your staff’s training can help to improve the level and quality of care provided to the residents. Regular training streamlines work by reducing the time that is often wasted in asking questions or figuring it out on their own. The right amount of training ensures that certain repetitive tasks are done without any errors and there is a set standard operating procedure that will be followed to a tee unless there is an aberration.
2. Don’t overwork them: Professional caregiving can take a toll on the mental, emotional and physical health of care home staff. The shifts are long and they work in an industry that is always understaffed. Therefore, conscious efforts should be made not to overwork the care staff. An exhausted team of caregivers doesn’t augur well for the overall well-being of the residents. A good number of leaves in between can do wonders to the staff’s morale and productivity.
3. Use technology: Technology is impacting and enhancing the way care homes are run and managed. Both the staff and the residents can avail the benefits of new technology like electronic medical records software that allows care home staff to streamline the daily duty of administering medicines. With electronic medical records software, they are sure that they have the right information in hand. They spend less time sorting out papers.
Improve staff efficiency at your care home with eMAR
eMAR is a handheld electronic medical records software that can help care home staff give the right medicines in the right dosage at the right time. The digital medication administration record template works on Android smartphones as well as tablets. As the digital template is the same as the paper-based, there is not much staff training required. eMAR helps improve staff efficiency by eliminating the task of the paper-based MAR sheets. It ensures efficient handover when the shift changes as eMAR doesn’t rely on human memory. To know how eMAR can help your care home staff become more efficient, visit https://www.electronicmar.co.uk/emar/.
4. Create a positive work environment: Professional caregiving is a tough job and it’s easy for care home staff to feel overwhelmed. High levels of stress can affect the staff’s ability to maintain efficiency. However, when staff are recognized and rewarded for their hard work, they feel positive. This further motivates them to do better.
