Abacus Systems helps nursing home streamline management process
Lucan Lodge has invested €40,000 in a new IT infrastructure overhaul, implemented by Abacus Systems, to help the centre streamline management process and comply with new standards.
The IT infrastructure provided by Abacus Systems was necessary to support new software, phone systems and CCTV; and it helps the Co. Dublin nursing home comply with new Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) standards for Residential Care Services.
Lucan Lodge’s owner and manager Tanya Patterson, explains since the implementation, new software packages have also been put in place, helping management streamline the day-to-day running of the nursing home, including nursing needs and medication for residents.
“Abacus Systems did a very professional job setting up all the required systems so we could run the new software, as well as fitting a new comprehensive telephone system and CCTV. We have had Abacus Systems installing previous phone systems and the reason we chose Abacus Systems for this particular project was because the team was able to install everything we required,” she explains.
Lucan Lodge nursing home was opened 23 years ago and is a modern 72-bed care facility located just outside Lucan, Co. Dublin. In 2004, the centre obtained planning permission to upscale from 46 to 72 beds and the refurbishment was completed two years later.
“The expansion of Lucan Lodge was the perfect opportunity to get completely up to speed with new technologies and get completely computerized. Before that, everything had to be done manually, which was very time-consuming,” she says.
“The new systems have made the day-to-day running of the nursing home extremely easy and comprehensive from a management point of view. It is easy to check notes and assessments, and make sure all information is up to date, including medication. At the click of a button we can now be in touch with the GP and print the prescriptions at the home. We have achieved a streamlined, easier to manage centre.”
The Health Information and Quality Authority’s Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), referred to in the Health Act 2007, was established to regulate the quality of residential care for children, older people and people with disabilities.
To secure compliance with HIQA standards, residential care centres across Ireland now need to install a range of software solutions, as well as implementing the infrastructure necessary to run those solutions.
“We can help nursing home providers such as Lucan Lodge put in place the technology they require to meet HIQA guidelines,” explains Derek O’Callaghan, managing director of Abacus Systems. “As a leading provider of IT infrastructure in Ireland, we work closely with software providers to make IT installation projects a seamless process, providing facilities for all types of buildings, from renovations to new builds and retro-fitting.”