Latest Advancement in Senior Care as it Celebrates its 91-Year History in Duluth
Abxtracker Technology Designed to Improve Care and Quality of Life for Older Adults
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | By Angie Andresen | June 24th, 2021
SHOREVIEW, Minn. – (June 24, 2021) — Throughout its 91 years in Duluth, innovation has been a hallmark of Ecumen Lakeshore’s approach to care. Today, Ecumen announced its latest advancement at a 91st anniversary celebration in Duluth.
One of the largest senior care and services providers in the country and among the 25 largest healthcare organizations in Minnesota, Ecumen announced that it has acquired abxtracker as the first technology tool in its new suite of technology solutions designed to improve quality of life and patient/resident outcomes. Ecumen is marketing this product to senior providers on a national level.
Developed by two seasoned, Duluth-based senior care pharmacists, abxtracker is an antibiotic and infection control tracking software designed for long term care and assisted living, and aligned with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations. The technology allows providers to electronically track antibiotic use in real time, with the ultimate objective of reducing the use of antibiotics in senior care.
Matt Just, director of clinical data solutions for Ecumen, was one of the developers of this software. “I had continually seen the need for a system to support antibiotic stewardship in the senior living space. We know that the overuse and over prescription of antibiotics can lead to negative outcomes, including increasing bacterial resistance,” Just said.
Beyond antibiotics, the abxtracker technology has expanded to infection control surveillance, which allows clinical teams to identify infection trends in real time and implement precautions to reduce the chance of spreading infections. The abxtracker technology has the ability to track COVID-19, as well as other viral, fungal or bacterial infections such as influenza and norovirus among residents and staff.
“This is such an exciting development for us,” said Shelley Kendrick, Ecumen president and CEO. “We are constantly working to enhance the lives of the older adults that we serve in our communities. This technology is addressing a real issue for seniors while at the same time, it allows clinical caregivers to focus on direct patient care.”
“Ecumen’s rich history is, in part, rooted in our value of innovation,” Kendrick said. “The one constant in our industry is change, and over the past nearly 160 years, we have evolved to better meet the needs of those we serve. Technology enhancements like this allow us to not only better serve Ecumen’s residents, but also serve more people — wherever they live.”
About Ecumen Lakeshore
Ecumen Lakeshore began in 1930 as the Lakeshore Home for the Aged. It was a traditional 14-bed nursing home owned and managed by the Board of Social Ministry, a nonprofit that later became Ecumen. In the late 1990s, Ecumen transformed Lakeshore into a leading regional center for contemporary senior living and care. The new campus — constructed in 2005 — has been nationally recognized for its innovative approach to caring for older adults, transforming itself from a nursing home to a state-of-the-art senior community offering a full continuum of services including short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, outpatient therapy, assisted living, memory care, independent living, home care, hospice and other services. Ecumen Lakeshore is one of Duluth’s largest employers with nearly 250 team members who serve more than 2,200 people annually.
In addition to Lakeshore, Ecumen’s footprint in the Duluth area includes Zvago Lake Superior, an independent cooperative living community; Mount Royal Pines III, and Lakeland Shores. In total, Ecumen serves nearly 2,400 people and employs more than 300 team members from this key regional center.
About Ecumen
Ecumen is a nonprofit provider, developer and operator of award-winning living spaces and innovative technology and services for older adults. Mission-driven since its founding in 1862, Ecumen’s legacy of service is a reflection of a commitment to honoring those it serves. One of the country’s largest senior housing and services providers, Ecumen is based in Shoreview, Minn., and operates properties and services in multiple states, and provides new development, management and consulting services. Housing options include cooperative living, independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care communities. Its diverse in-home and community-based services include home care, hospice, physical and occupational therapy, adult day services, technology products and an online durable goods medical store. Ecumen is a recipient of the 2020 NRC Health Customer Approved Award, a reflection of resident and family member ratings. For more information, visit ecumen.org.