Rising operational expenses, staff wages, and medication costs create financial pressure on care homes. Without proper cost management, care homes risk financial instability and reduced care quality. Investing in efficient systems helps reduce waste, improve productivity, and enhance resident safety. Technology, such as eMAR systems, helps prevent medication errors and minimises unnecessary spending. Reducing avoidable costs allows resources to be redirected toward better facilities and engaging activities for residents. Cost-saving strategies also improve staff morale, as reduced administrative burdens allow caregivers to focus on patient care. Care homes must continuously assess expenses, eliminate inefficiencies, and adopt cost-effective solutions. Here, we examine the cost benefits of implementing eMAR systems in care home:
1. Reduction in operational costs
Traditional paper-based record-keeping creates significant expenses, including costs for paper, ink, printers, filing cabinets, and storage space. Over time, these costs add up, placing unnecessary strain on budgets. Transitioning to an electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) system removes these recurring expenses, allowing care homes to allocate funds to more essential areas such as resident care, staff training, and facility improvements.
Beyond material costs, paper records require manual handling, filing, and retrieval, which increase administrative workloads. Staff members must spend valuable time updating records, ensuring accuracy, and locating information when needed. This manual process is time-consuming and inefficient. eMAR systems automate record-keeping, reducing the need for staff to perform repetitive administrative tasks. This leads to savings in labour costs, as fewer hours are spent on documentation. It may also allow care homes to optimise staffing levels, preventing unnecessary overtime or reducing the need for additional administrative personnel.
2. Decreased medication errors
Medication errors in care homes create serious risks for residents and increase costs for facilities. Mistakes such as administering the wrong dosage, giving medication at the wrong time, or missing doses can lead to severe health complications. These errors often result in readmissions, additional medical treatments, or emergency interventions, all of which create significant financial burdens for care homes. eMAR systems help prevent these mistakes by automating medication administration, ensuring that the right resident receives the correct dose at the proper time.
3. Reduction in medication waste
Medication waste is a major cost issue for care homes. Over-ordering, missed doses, and incorrect administration result in unused or discarded medication. eMAR systems track medication usage in real-time, ensuring that staff administers the correct dose at the right time. This reduces the likelihood of expired or wasted medications, saving care homes money on unnecessary drug orders.
Also, real-time tracking helps avoid duplicate prescriptions. In traditional systems, a lack of visibility into a resident’s medication history can lead to reordering medications that are already available. eMAR provides instant access to up-to-date prescription records – this prevents excess stockpiling of medication and reduces overall costs.
4. Reducing unnecessary treatments and tests
Duplicate tests and unnecessary treatments drive up healthcare costs. When staff members lack immediate access to patient records, they may repeat medical tests or treatments due to uncertainty about previous results. eMAR systems centralise patient information. This allows healthcare providers to make informed decisions quickly. With clear and accessible records, staff can avoid unnecessary medical tests, thereby reducing both costs and staff workload.
The cost savings from waste reduction add up over time. This makes eMAR systems a valuable investment. By preventing medication waste and minimising administrative inefficiencies, care homes experience sustained financial benefits. These savings allow facilities to reinvest in resident care, staff development, and technological advancements. To know more about eMAR’s benefits, check this useful read.