Care Dimensions Creative Arts Therapist Coordinator Li Kynvi sings during the virtual Service of Remembrance, which was available to watch live online and was recorded for viewing later.

11 Ways Pandemic Spurred Innovation at Care Dimensions

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to adjust to changes that have been disruptive and challenging, but some changes at Care Dimensions have been beneficial. When the pandemic hit in March and we had to find new ways to work and care for patients, our teams rose to the challenge and created new systems, adopted new technologies, and did whatever they had to do.

Innovations that we had as part of our long-range strategic plan were accelerated and deployed within weeks. In 2020, we:
 

• Rolled out new systems to enable secure virtual clinical visits with patients and loaned iPhones to patients if they didn’t have a way to connect with us
• Created a virtual referral center, which allows staff to answer calls live from home
• Enabled secure mobile document scanning to facilitate admissions and documentation
• Developed a secure online patient admissions portal so that consent forms and documents could be signed remotely.

We also brought many of our programs online via Zoom-based presentations and webinars, including:
 

• Professional and community education programs
• Grief support programs
• Volunteer training
• New hire orientation

We also converted our traditional events to virtual ones, including:
 

• Walk for Hospice
• Service of Remembrance

• Tree of Lights

We are not only keeping the essence of who we are, but through these new technologies we’re finding ways to reach more people than ever before.

All of this innovation and investment is made possible by our loyal community donors. As we head into the holidays, I want thank all of you for your continued support – you are our greatest blessing!

Watch Pat Ahern's holiday message:

We welcome gifts of any amount to support our efforts to enrich quality of life for those affected by life-limiting illness, death and loss by providing exceptional care, support, education and consultation.

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About the author
Patricia Ahern, RN, MBA, FACHE, is President and CEO of Care Dimensions.