Laura Mitchell

GrandCare Systems Selects New Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team

Remote patient monitoring and virtual caregiving technology pioneer GrandCare Systems announced today the appointment of GrandCare founding member and board director Laura Mitchell as GrandCare’s new Chief Executive Officer. Mitchell replaces the current CEO, Charles Hillman, who started the cutting-edge software company in 2005. Hillman, an engineer and MIT graduate, will continue to lead the GrandCare vision as Founder and a trusted Advisor. Mitchell has also recruited a new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to expand GrandCare’s flexible and affordable “point-of-care” platform options for various settings.

“I am honored to have been elected as GrandCare’s next CEO. This is an industry that I have been immersed in and passionate about for the past 15 years,” said Mitchell. “We are seeing rapid growth in the adoption of caregiving technologies, in both the home caregiving and senior housing industries. It is a privilege for me to be leading GrandCare during this period of opportunity and growth.”

Mitchell brings 15 years of connected health, technology and aging expertise, as well as her core competencies in strategic business development, marketing and lead generation, to this executive role at GrandCare. She was a founding team member of GrandCare in 2005, where she served as the VP of Business Development and Chief Marketing Officer for over a decade. In 2015, she founded Laura Mitchell Consulting (LMC), a strategic business development, marketing and consulting agency with a niche in healthcare, aging and technology. Mitchell will continue to lead her strike team of six at LMC, in addition to her new role as CEO of GrandCare Systems.

“Laura brings new life and rejuvenation to GrandCare during these critical years when the industry is actively seeking remote monitoring technologies,” said GrandCare Founder Charlie Hillman. “Her unparalleled expertise and business acumen will help take GrandCare to the next level.”

The use of technology in the aging industry is rapidly increasing. According to Aging & Technology Industry Analyst and Expert, Laurie Orlov, “Technology to help care for an aging population matters now more than ever — the $29.8 billion market is poised to match the aging demographic of 48 million seniors aged 65+ and to help fill the gap of individuals available to care for them.”

“More seniors want to remain independent, but might need a little support and connection,” said GrandCare’s Chief Operating Officer Gaytha Traynor. “GrandCare can help provide that support and connection, and the cost is less than the cost of one week in an average care community”.

Mitchell was a founder of the aging and technology industry’s first aging and technology weekly industry webinars, a co-founder of the Aging & Technology Alliance (AgeTek) and was an early educator for EHX (Electronic House Expo) and CEDIA. She has been featured in Forbes magazine, awarded Dealerscope Magazine’s “Top 40 under 40,”​ the 2014 Connected World Women of M2M, and the 2011 Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit “Flame Award” for Innovation and Leadership. She has spoken at industry events throughout the United States, and has authored global white papers and articles on the topics of longevity, technology, remote patient monitoring and marketing to the aging population. Mitchell serves on the Historic West Bend Theatre Board of Directors, and serves as a Director of Boomers & Marketing for USPR.

ABOUT GRANDCARE

GrandCare is designed to reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes by enabling designated family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals to remotely care for an individual in a residence, regardless of geographic location. The heart of GrandCare is a large touchscreen in the residence, which provides the individual with social communications, instructions, reminders and medication prompts. Optional telehealth & activity sensors wirelessly report information and can send alerts if something is amiss. No computer skills are needed for the resident. For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com, call 262-­338-6147, or contact info@grandcare.com.

virtual long term care

Benefit Specialists Recognizes GrandCare as the Cadillac of Virtual Long-Term Care

Benefit Specialists, an industry leader since 1980, is a privately owned, full service insurance brokerage firm specialize in both employer-provided and voluntary benefits for companies of all sizes across a broad array of industries. Affiliated with over 50 of the largest national insurance companies, they specialize in providing customized solutions for companies looking for group and individual insurance products and benefit plans which will meet the unique needs of employees.

Recently, Benefit Specialists wrote an interesting article discussing the impact that emerging technologies are having on long-term care environments. Check out the excerpt below, which explains how GrandCare is reshaping the healthcare landscape.

“For those who want to maximize their peace of mind, Gomez says the Cadillac of virtual long-term care is a remote-monitoring system like that offered by grandCARE.

With this system, activity sensors are placed in a senior’s home. To use grandCARE, Managed Senior Care first evaluates what a typical ‘good day’ looks like for a senior and sets alerts accordingly. For example, if a senior typically has breakfast by 9 a.m. and the refrigerator hasn’t been opened by that time, an alert may go out to a caregiver.

As with Banner iCare, seniors using the grandCARE system are set up with a tablet. In this case, it’s an oversized tablet that can be remotely activated. If a caregiver needs to check on a senior, he or she can open Skype which will activate the camera and microphone on the tablet. At that point, the caregiver can look for the senior and call out to him or her to determine whether help is needed.

‘One of the reasons we like this product is because it’s respectful of the senior,’ Gomez says. ‘You know when people are watching. There is no secret monitoring.’”

GrandCare Systems and AllHealth CHOICE Announce Strategic Partnership Offering CHARLIE

Technology-powered Care Management and Virtual Caregiving Services

GrandCare Systems (GC) and AllHealth CHOICE (AHC) announced today at the Louisville Innovation Summit that they have formed a strategic alliance for AllHealth CHOICE’s exclusive integration of CHARLIE, a GrandCare technology, in its innovative virtual caregiving and care management service.  CHARLIE was designed to enable the elderly, chronically-ill, and disabled population to remain independent, healthy, and safe at home.

“We are delighted to partner with AllHealth CHOICE who truly have the vision, an established process and the clinical expertise to make cost-effective virtual care a reality.”

Leveraging CHARLIE, AllHealth CHOICE integrates the latest in remote activity of daily living monitoring, telehealth, socialization, patient engagement, and care coordination technologies into one comprehensive service combined with dedicated care managers and navigators.

AllHealth CHOICE, powered by CHARLIE, offers true patient-centered care management. The result is improved patient care and better patient outcomes. This innovative approach proactively reduces critical events and hospital re/admissions by transmitting red flag and preventative information to medical providers, the care manager, family members and loved ones. The integration of CHARLIE, tailored care management, and increased patient engagement is demonstrating improved results. One healthcare provider saw the use of CHARLIE resulting in a whopping 60% reduction in hospital re/admissions and ER visits.

“For more than a decade, GrandCare has worked to develop a comprehensive, patient-centered technology to improve care for individuals in their own homes,” said GrandCare founder and CEO, Charlie Hillman. “We are delighted to partner with AllHealth CHOICE who truly have the vision, an established process and the clinical expertise to make cost-effective virtual care a reality.”

“AllHealth has successfully and seamlessly integrated a professional and compassionate care management team with a proven point-of-care GrandCare technology, CHARLIE,” said AllHealth CHOICE CEO, Sabrina Patterson. “We are offering our flagship product, CHARLIE, to help patients and providers achieve better outcomes at a more affordable price.”

AllHealth’s care management team creates an individualized care plan and then customizes CHARLIE to specifically meet the patient’s needs. CHARLIE senses changes in monitoring patterns, health vitals, and alerts the care manager as well as any other designated individuals such as the healthcare provider or family member for immediate and early intervention.

AllHealthCHOICE will be showcasing CHARLIE and the AHC care management approach at the Louisville Innovation Summit on October 10th and 11th from 8am – 4pm. GrandCare’s Charlie Hillman is slated to speak in the Senior Cyborgs: The Rise of Digital Health panel on Monday October 10th, at 2:15pm.

 

GrandCare Announces Distribution Shift, Launches New and Improved Reseller Program  

LivHOME CareMonitorApril 11, 2016 West Bend, WI–GrandCare is launching a new network of professional dealers, expanding services and offerings in Spring 2016.

GrandCare Systems introduced today an all new distribution and reseller program, using educated and innovative dealers throughout the United States, Canada and in the UK. The company has begun training and certifying custom integrators, dealers, installers, care communities, and other senior-oriented organizations who wish to cater to the rising aging and disabled population. GrandCare will host various two-day intensive education and training sessions to address the various market verticals, clinical information on healthcare needs and chronic conditions, the competitive industry landscape and evolution, regulatory and security compliance, accessibility, as well as complementary products and services to co-sell.

Participants will learn to successfully sell, customize, implement and install GrandCare, while offering additional value-added, revenue-generating services. The training will encompass GrandCare’s eleven years of industry knowledge, teaching tried and true sales and marketing strategies that are geared towards the aging and healthcare market.  

“We always knew the dealer channel was a great idea, but it just took the market a while to catch on,” laughed GrandCare founder Charlie Hillman. “We spent over a decade improving the GrandCare experience, ensuring we have the most reliable and comprehensive technology out there. With this population, you don’t get second chances so it’s critical that the technology actually works.”

As baby boomers retire in increasing numbers, the market for technology that assists seniors to remain in their homes is growing. In response to this increased demand, GrandCare is opening up additional distribution channels.

The next training will be held April 12 – 14 in the GrandCare heartland of Wisconsin. Additional trainings are being scheduled this summer. For more information on registration and dealer requirements, email: info@grandcare.com.

About GrandCare:

GrandCare is designed to reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes by enabling designated family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals to remotely care for an individual in a residence, regardless of geographic location. The heart of GrandCare is a large touchscreen in the residence, which provides the individual with social communications, instructions, reminders and medication prompts.  Optional telehealth & activity sensors wirelessly report information and can send alerts if something is amiss. No computer skills are needed for the resident.  For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com, call 262-­338-6147, or contact info@grandcare.com.

GrandCare Announces Certified Dealer Training in April

System2.pngGrandCare Systems announced today the re-launch of their platinum distribution channel by certifying authorized custom integrators, dealers, installers and other organizations. GrandCare will be offering a 2-day intensive training session on market opportunities, aging and health conditions, the competitive landscape, as well as complementary products and services. The training will also cover sales and marketing strategies and a deep dive into the GrandCare technology.  Participants will learn to successfully customize, implement and install GrandCare, while offering additional value-added services to help individuals remain healthy and happy at home.

Launched in 2006, GrandCare Systems is the pioneer in connected living and connected health in the private home. GrandCare is a comprehensive, fully tested and rugged system that combines social interaction with activity sensors and telehealth devices. Family members and other caregivers can monitor activity patterns, assess health readings, and send personalized messages and reminders to the GrandCare touchscreen platform in the private home.

If you or someone you know would be a good fit for the GrandCare distribution direct to consumer channel, we would like to hear from you.

What?
GrandCare Dealer Training

Who?
Anyone that would like to resell GrandCare technology and services

Where?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When?
April 12th – 14th (Training begins at 1pm on the 12th and ends at 1pm on the 14th)

Early Bird Special: $1500 (register before March 15th)

Regular Training Rate: $2500

Additional rewards for previously authorized GrandCare Dealers

Details will be provided upon registration

[REGISTER HERE]

LB Homes Achieves Four Star Medicare Rating, Attributes Success to Technology

 

Minnesota-Based Home Care Agency Uses grandCARE Technology to Improve Patient Care and Outcomes

 

Over100YearslogoFergus Falls, MN – Lakeland Home Care, an LB Homes agency, announced today that they have received a four star quality of patient care rating by Medicare. The average quality rating is 3 stars. LB Homes attributes their high rating to a number of factors including GrandCare’s remote monitoring, telehealth and socialization platform. LB Homes uses this technology in a service called “LB Homes Connect” to provide top-notch care to remote clients.

Medicare ratings, which are determined through an analysis of nine separate quality measures, include flu vaccination rates, drug education, increases in mobility, and fewer hospitalizations. Telehealth, telemedicine, and medication adherence technology from the GrandCare platform can assist in mitigating readmissions and proactively alerting LB Homes nurses should something go wrong.

LB Homes monitors patient vitals using GrandCare telehealth devices like blood pressure cuffs, weight scales and glucometers. The LB Connect system reminds LB clients when and how to take their readings, instructions for medications and can alert trained caregivers of potential problematic situations.

“We have seen healthier and happier clients and we know that [LB Homes Connect] has prevented emergency room visits.” said Carrie Miller, Telehealth Program Coordinator at LB Homes. “Our nurses are more efficient and effective knowing that…we can intervene long before things get critical.”

GrandCare CEO Charlie Hillman understands the importance of in-home technology for the health and well-being of our aging population:

We’ve built a robust and comprehensive caregiving platform, but we have learned that better outcomes are delivered through the people using these tools. LB Homes is proving that remote technologies can empower the best caregivers to provide even better care. That’s how it’s supposed to work. Congratulations to LB Homes on this prestigious recognition.

About LB Homes: LB Homes began helping seniors find quality housing and healthcare services nearly a century ago. Founded in 1915 in the town of Sauk Centre, Minnesota, Lutheran Brethren Homes began its ministry in senior services and eventually expanded to Arizona and Texas. In 1959 they opened the Broen (Memorial) Home in Fergus Falls, MN.

Over the years LB Homes expanded to now include long term care, home care services, end of life care, short stay care, assisted living, and enhanced assisted living.

For more information, please visit www.LBHomes.org
805 E. Channing Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537

About GrandCare: GrandCare Systems, founded in 2005, combines digital health assessment, biometric readings, activity of daily living sensing, medication management, smart home automation, video chat and virtual touch-based communications into the most comprehensive and fully-featured technology in the private home market. GrandCare is designed for individuals seeking a caregiving solution for an aging loved one or for professional in-home, long term care or clinical caregiving providers.

For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147

PR Contact:
Laura Mitchell Consulting
Digital Health Marketing
media@lmcllc.us
262-707-6726
@laurahmitchell

GrandCare Chief Medical Officer wins Los Angeles County Award

GrandCare’s Dr. Erick Eiting wins Bronze Eagle award for reducing ER visits for incarcerated patients

Erick Eiting Bronze EagleGrandCare Systems announced today that Chief Medical Officer Dr. Erick Allen Eiting has been awarded the County of Los Angeles Productivity and Quality Award Program Bronze Eagle Award for his role as project manager of the Inmate Care Services Project.  During Dr. Eiting’s tenure, the project reduced emergency room visits by 17% and patient wait times by 75%.

This innovative endeavor is a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS), the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Medical Services Bureau (MSB) and the University of Southern California (USC).  The overarching themes of this partnership have been to improve access to specialty care, quality of care, coordination and communication; to provide care coordination resources to aid in case management for patients with complex medical needs; to increase the quality of services provided to jail patients; to increase onsite medical services within the Los Angeles County Jail (LACJ) system; to reduce the number of unnecessary transfers out of the jail setting; to reduce unnecessary outpatient specialty care visits at LAC+USC Medical Center (LAC+USC); to reduce emergency department visits by enhancing existing resources; and, to direct as much inpatient care as possible to the Jail Ward at LAC+USC.  The program started in July 2013 with an on-site urgent care unit at Twin Towers Correctional Facility.  Additional services continue to be phased in.

“Dr. Eiting was selected for his proven results” said GrandCare CEO and Founder, Charlie Hillman.  “He’s perfectly suited to run GrandCare’s clinical advisory board, focusing on mitigating hospital readmissions, ensuring better outcomes and saving money.”

About GrandCare Systems:
GrandCare Systems, founded in 2005, combines digital health assessment, biometric readings, activity of daily living sensing, medication management, smart home automation, video chat and virtual touch-based communications into the most comprehensive and fully-featured technology in the private home market. GrandCare is designed for individuals seeking a caregiving solution for an aging loved one or for professional in-home, long term care or clinical caregiving providers. For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147

LMC: PR & Marketing for all things Digital Health, Technology & Aging
@laurahmitchell

Going above and beyond the traditional PERS

If you were around during the 80’s and 90’s, I’m sure you remember that clever catchphrase, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”, and the television commercials from a certain maker of a medical emergency response systems. Fast forward to 2015, and a lot has changed in the way of digital health technology. The advent of smartphones, tablets, watches, fitness wristbands, and other devices are changing our world and just how mobile we can be without losing our connection to everything digital.

Let’s face it, we live in a fast paced world and people crave their technology gadgets, addicted sometimes, and when said gadget goes down for any reason, say, your kid drops it in the toilet, or you leave it in the bathroom at the airport in your rush to make your connecting flight…your digital life is temporarily ‘over’.

But, if you are someone over the age of 65, life tends to slow down a bit. Trading in chasing around kids to soccer practice, and making the early morning client meeting for a more relaxed lifestyle tending to a flower garden at home, enjoying time volunteering for local community causes, or even just unwinding in a favorite recliner while reading a good book. However, this newfound freedom and independence often comes with its own share of dangers of the unknown.

today's caregiver

According to a recent article by Today’s Caregiver:

Studies report that 30% of people who are over the age of 65 (about 35 million Americans) fall every year, and that these incidences increase to 50% for those over the age of 80.

It’s been estimated that at least 60% of all falls occur in the home… people with neuromuscular or cognitive diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, ALS and even diabetes fall even more frequently.

Whatever the reasoning, the danger still exists for someone who has taken a fall, especially if they are elderly and alone. For those who are unable to get up from a fall, the amount of time they spend immobile will greatly affect the outcome of their health and rehabilitation. In other words, a fall that results in a serious injury may signify the beginning of declining health that may become an irreversible, downward spiral.

So, how can you ensure your loved one won’t become a tragic victim of this downward spiral from a fall that goes undected? You could opt for a personal emergency response system (PERS), such as the one from the tv advertisements, but those require your loved one to actually push a button. What if your loved one suffers a medical episode which hinders their ability to push this button? This is a gap of the traditional PERS solution, a gap that our technology can help fill.

Introducing the grandCARE system solution which incorporates a series of passive activity and motion sensing devices to better monitor patterns of behavior instead of requiring the user to push a button. If there is no motion, excessive motion, or activity patterns that do not fit the norm, an alert will go out regardless of the individual person’s ability to engage the push button. Download: Gaps of PERS System Flyer

Learn more about how passive activity and motion sensing devices can provide you added peace of mind by visiting our website www.grandCARE.com.

Better Care Logo - Square - Standard - TMSystem Comp HR

About grandCARE:

GrandCare Systems LLC, founded in 2005, offers the most comprehensive and holistic professional care giving and health coordination tool on the market.  grandCARE is a large touch platform which provides health instructions, secure video chat, wireless vital recordings and analytics, medication compliance, activity sensing, and family communications into one intuitive and expandable platform.  grandCARE focuses on true individual centered care, enabling better experience, better engagement, and better outcomes. For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147.

 Media Contact:

Amy Schwengels       262.338.6147   media@grandCARE.com

Note: “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” is a registered trademark of LifeAlert.

Technology paves the way to tackling the senior care crisis

According to the U.S. Department of Health Human Services and the Administration for Community Living, the elderly population in the United States is expected to more than double from 39 million to 72 million by 2030. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing also predicts that there will be a serious nursing shortfall in the next few years as there will not be enough to meet these increasing demands. These issues along with the rising costs of long-term care leads many seniors and their families seeking alternatives to allow the elderly to remain independent and aging at home for as long as possible.

Prairie Business Magazine

This is where home care providers and technology can bridge this widening gap. A recent article by Kris Bevill in the July Issue of the Prairie Business Magazine, in Grand Forks, ND talks about these issues that are becoming a big concern for the northern Plains where much of the population is in the 65 years plus range.

This new and growing demand, combined with a region-wide health care worker shortage, means the fairly young home health care industry is often racing to keep up with patient loads and regulations, but providers say they are confident they will continue to meet demand, thanks in part to new methods of care delivery. – See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/24157/#sthash.akar3ksu.dpuf

In the article, Patti Cullen, president and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota talks about how “congregate settings allow fewer workers to care for more patients. She also points to technology as a great potential aid in allowing seniors to remain in their home with limited personnel visits.”

Anne Major, president of Fargo-based Ethos Home Care agrees that technology can aid the industry by confronting staffing challenges while providing top-notch care to patients.

Major points out that Ethos has been advertising for a licensed practical nurse and another RN “for quite a while,” but finding staff is an ongoing problem. “The hospitals are feeling it, the care centers are feeling it, and home care is feeling it as well,” Major says.

She adds, “incorporating technology into home care not just for the staffing benefits, but for the additional well-being that remote monitoring can provide for families. Technology can be utilized in a variety of ways for senior care. Medication dispensers can send an alarm to caregivers if medicine is not dispensed at the correct time, motion sensors can automatically trigger lights to turn when a person enters a room or steps on the floor as they get out of bed. Major offers another example she’s seen firsthand, where a child was concerned about his parent leaving home and becoming disoriented, so a sensor was enabled to alert the child whenever the parent’s garage door opens or closes.” – See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/24157/#sthash.akar3ksu.dpuf

Knute Nelson, based in Alexandria, MN utilizes the GrandCare Systems technology to meet their care giving needs by providing a touch screen in the patient’s home.

The grandCARE product is a complete care system that combines telehealth, activity monitoring, digital health management, medication reminders, remote patient monitoring and entertainment/social engagement features into a single, easy-to-use touchscreen designed to keep seniors aging in place.

Technology like grandCARE can actually be more affordable than you think. For home care, senior living and other healthcare organizations, grandCARE offers special enterprise solution programs that can make implementation of this type of technology a reality. Jerry Furness, Chief Operating Officer at grandCARE systems says, “we believe in the benefits of our system and want to provide organizations an opportunity to reap the benefits which is why we have these special enterprise programs in place. Our goal is to make implementation happen in a meaningful way by partially or fully eliminating the up front cost hurdles for these groups.”

Caregiver showing grandCARE user new task list feature.

Caregiver showing grandCARE user new task list feature.

System Comp HR

The article concludes: Andrea Jung, president of Elk River, Minnesota-based Guardian Angels Elimm Healthcare and Hospice added, “I’m really excited about the potential there is for home care….I think technology is going to be a big impact and change the way we deliver care and how many people we’re reaching. There are so many things going on in this industry that I’m really excited about.”

About grandCARE:

GrandCare Systems LLC, founded in 2005, offers the most comprehensive and holistic professional care giving and health coordination tool on the market.  grandCARE is a large touch platform which provides health instructions, secure video chat, wireless vital recordings and analytics, medication compliance, activity sensing, and family communications into one intuitive and expandable platform.  grandCARE focuses on true individual centered care, enabling better experience, better engagement, and better outcomes. For more information, visit: www.grandcare.com or call 262-338-6147.

 Media Contact:

Amy Schwengels       262.338.6147   media@grandCARE.com

GrandCare Systems debuts new website

You may recall that late in 2014, we announced our new brand logo, identity, and new color schematics as GrandCare Systems looked to modernize and give our brand an updated and refreshed look. Expanding on what we started, we are aligning our new brand identity to our completely redefined sales and marketing strategy in the hopes to better target our product solutions to the various customer markets we serve on our newly redesigned website: www.grandCARE.com.

Introducing: Our all new grandCARE program solution strategy featuring Professional Care, Community Based Care, and Family Centered Care programs. While our product and its capabilities haven’t really changed, what is different is the way we are presenting it to each of the individuals and organizations our product is designed to benefit.

“When I first came on board, I started to evaluate our website immediately, because it is the most highly visible sales and marketing tool we have. In most cases, our website presents the first impression we make to our customers. My goal when redesigning the site was to take the new branding and color schemes and build on those ideas by developing very distinct program solution paths for visitors to take based on their specific personal or business needs,” said GrandCare Systems Marketing Analyst, Amy Schwengels.

Who We Help_pg 1Selection Guide
Along with an all new look and feel to the site, the new website includes two new sections to help users decide which program solution is best for them: Who We Help and Selection Guide.

“We wanted to create a more straight-forward approach to how we engage visitors on our website. We feel that by creating the color-coded program solution paths along with useful selection guide tools, we are able to better communicate with our customers and make sure that they are able to find more meaningful content on our site,” added Dan Maynard, GrandCare Systems CEO.

Additional information, questions, or comments regarding the new website can be directed to Amy Schwengels, Marketing Analyst at 262.338.6147, or please visit www.grandCARE.com and drop us a line on our Contact Us page. A media kit and other marketing materials are available on our website.