One focus for GoodLife in 2019 is integrating and applying the power of iLink technologies across our suite of services and into every home. The Applied Technologies Center (ATC) is our health, behavioral, case management, care concern and vacancy management hub. The ATC is a valuable add-on to our Neighborhood Network, further allowing for us to care holistically for each resident.
Nichole Reiske, Director of iLink Support Services, stops by the blog to share her history with GoodLife, and what a day in the ATC looks like.
Nichole, tell us how you contribute to serving GoodLife’s population?
Of course! In my role as Director, I oversee all of iLink and its vacancy staffing. I train the remote-coaches and can monitor them as they interact with residents. I also write the policies and procedures for the technology that is placed in GoodLife homes. I have been with GoodLife for a total of nine years, first as an in-home caregiver for five years, then a residential manager, and now in my current role with iLink.
Why did you decide to transition from caregiving to technology?
My goal has always been to advance my career within GoodLife because I love our outcomes and can see the tangible and positive impact we have on the communities and families we serve! I enjoy writing policy and, due to my background, clearly understand procedure. GoodLife leadership also saw my ability to manage teams, and presented me with this opportunity … and I love it!
Why is the Applied Technology Center important for iLink?
The ATC is the hub for several sectors, including staffing, nursing, and behavioral support. iLink offers 24/7/365 central monitoring for all of our residential homes, day services and Professional Family Teachers. The reason we are all in one centralized location is to get the most out of the technology to deliver care in the moment of need. Nursing can do immediate remote wellness checks. Caregivers can provide remote support and training to one another, and to the clients, when questions or needs arise. Residents can view which staff members are working, and self-direct accordingly. It’s all about coordinated, holistic care.
What sets iLink apart from other monitoring technologies?
My favorite part of iLink is our alert system, Assist. Assist takes the millions of data points received from our smart home sensors, captures only the most important (like a stove that needs to be turned off or a door that opens when it should stay closed), and provides alerts to the staff based on individualized rules set up for each client or home. We can’t have eyes on everything live, so Assist makes it incredibly efficient by prioritizing alerts based on level and immediacy of the need.
What inspires you today at GoodLife?
GoodLife has always focused on coaching and continuous learning of those we serve. We are really able to do that with what we’ve developed with iLink. The ongoing learning, active treatment, continuous reevaluations of resident outcomes and emphasis on staff training is what I think sets GoodLife apart from other facilities. We are always pushing to be better so we can care for residents best.
I’m also inspired by how GoodLife started: by families that just wanted better outcomes and better lives for their loved ones. We weren’t started by the state or an insurance company or to make a profit–we were founded by families. Our outcomes and techniques are research based, and our goal is to share our models and techniques so that they can be adopted by other agencies with similar missions.
What are you looking forward to for 2019?
I’m really excited about the different sectors working together to use the technology to its fullest. Every day we are able to do more. Individual Neighborhood Networks are really able to take control of their own pods to serve their community, and nurses have more access and tools than every to care for residents either on-site or remotely. It’s exciting.
If you’d like to hear more about GoodLife’s staff, visit us here.
