Mapping For Senior Care: The Potential of Bing Maps In A Growing Industry
It’s hard to admit it, but we’re all getting old. With the huge population of Baby Boomers all entering their senior years, the number of senior Americans is higher than it’s ever been.
Aging-In-Place
The good news is that with medical advancements and increased attention to diet and exercise, many of those seniors won’t be entering into assisted living facilities. Many of us will be able to live out our golden years at home, with occasional in-home help.
That’s where the home health care industry comes in. And it’s a $73 billion industry. There are more than 300,000 companies employing almost 1.4 million people. By nature of the business, many of those employees spend their entire working day in the field.
Healthcare On The Move
Like any industry with a mobile workforce, home healthcare companies are looking for ways to use GPS, mapping and location-based technology to help them make their operations more efficient.
Companies like August Systems are creating mobile applications that can be used by their staff while on rounds. August Systems is the provider of a cloud-based scheduling software for home healthcare companies. Agencies can create schedules, integrate task lists and link visits directly to billing and invoicing. For years, they’ve provided a trusted tool for their clients. And while August Systems was ahead of its time with its robust software, until recently, it lacked a mobile component.
August Systems used Microsoft Azure to create CareWhen – a completely mobile application that provides all of the power of their desktop solution on a mobile device. Caregivers can check client details, report to supervisors and request schedule changes all while on the move.
The app even remembers the location of clients so they can be geographically paired with the most appropriate caregiver.
The Mapping Potential
Imagine all of the possibilities that Bing Maps can bring to the home health care industry with apps such as these. Of course caregivers could more easily find clients, but schedulers could view all clients and staff on a map and make scheduling decisions that would save everyone time and money. In the case of a client emergency, finding a nearby caregiver would be as simple as a click of a mouse. The idea of an isolated, homebound senior would be a thing of the past. Finding medical equipment locally could save seniors valuable dollars. Even pharmacies and meal delivery services could tap into the system to help provide the most complete care for seniors.
Everyone Ages
No one who lives escapes aging – no matter how hard we try. That means that while the population of seniors might vary from year to year, the need for senior care is a constant. Bing maps and other mobile technology is poised to make that care better and more efficient than ever.
