Older adults boost their tech skills in Banner Olive Branch Senior Center’s new computer lab
01/04/2024
Senior centers across the country, like the Banner Olive Branch Senior Center in Sun City, AZ, are evolving to address overall wellness for older adults as the model for a senior center of the future is taking form. As part of that holistic package of services – in addition to the healthy, homemade meals provided for low-income seniors – Olive Branch recently opened the doors to a new computer lab.
I was not confident using my computer until I took the computer class today at the Banner Olive Branch Senior Center,” says one enthusiastic computer lab user. “The instructor was great and the class was very helpful. I look forward to learning more things over time. This is such a great resource for seniors to learn about technology.”Funded through a charitable grant from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health Supporting Maricopa County’s Aging and Older Adults Population, the computer lab is outfitted with eight ADA-accessible and flexible workstations with desktop computers, large monitors, the Microsoft Office suite of applications, and internet access, along with an instructor’s area with a podium, computer, and large screen.“The computer lab is fast becoming a place where our senior community comes to learn how to use technology,” explains Julie Ash, community outreach representative for Olive Branch. “Most of today’s business and personal transactions are online. The computer lab and its classes provide the building blocks needed to master life on the internet.”With computer literacy courses specifically designed for seniors to enhance technology skills, increase access to telehealth services and address social isolation, the lab will teach participants how to access online health portals, manage their medical care, download telehealth applications, and receive virtual care via telehealth platforms. In addition, they will learn how to use email and social media platforms to stay connected with friends and family, while gaining and understanding of safe internet usage, how to protect their personal information, and avoiding predatory online scams.“As one of the largest employers in Arizona and one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the country, Banner Health has the stability that comes with success and the desire to collaborate with community partners to bring accurate health information and resources to underserved communities,” explains Laurie Thomas, who manages healthy aging initiatives for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. “Our mission is to increase the quality of life for our residents by collaborating with the community to develop and implement strategies, programs and services addressing the emerging and changing needs of public health. Maricopa County Department of Public Health is pleased to partner with Banner in offering this full-service computer lab to older adults in the West Valley.”Since 1988, Banner Olive Branch Senior Center has been providing health care services and more aging and older adults in the Northwest Valley communities of Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Youngtown, and El Mirage and beyond. Beginning with a food program in a local church and one loaned vehicle, BOBSC now offers 25 programs and services and has a 16-vehicle fleet. Each year, the center serves approximately 3,300 people, many of whom take advantage of its no-cost or low-cost food programs. These individuals, who combined make more than 36,600 visits annually, have an average age of 76.Learn more about how you can give the gifts of fellowship, food and dignity to older adults who rely on Banner Olive Branch Senior Center here.
Banner receives grant for innovative diagnostic tool
Algorithm in electronic medical record helps diagnose delirium
1/3/2025
Banner Health is one of seven health care systems in the nation to be awarded a $100,000 grant by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to support the implementation of a new diagnostic tool used to detect delirium in patients at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. The Diagnostic Excellence – Age-Friendly Health Systems Seed Grant program, supported by The Gordon and Betty Moore and The John A. Hartford Foundations, seeks to test innovations supporting age-friendly diagnostic practices.
Known as NOVAD (Neurological Orientation and Verbal Response Assessment for Delirium), Banner’s tool uses data from the electronic medical record to tell medical staff if a patient is at high risk for delirium, which is a serious change in mental abilities that results in confusion and lack of awareness.
As the population in the United States gets older, the importance of quality geriatric care in hospitals remains essential. Arizona is home to more than 1 million residents aged 65 and older, making up almost 18% of the state population. This population often requires a higher, more specialized level of care during inpatient hospitalizations due to increased risks for complications in an acute care setting. As an age-friendly healthcare system, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix has implemented measures to improve the quality of care for its aging patients, such as the acute care for elders unit and the HOPE Oral Care Program.
In tandem with the age-friendly guidelines set by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the NOVAD tool will help provide better care for older patients through its ability to warn staff early of possible delirium cases.
Research shows that the prevalence of delirium in hospitalized patients is about 30%, but many cases are often missed or unconfirmed. If not diagnosed early, delirium has the potential to affect patients’ ability to eat and swallow and increases their risk of infection, which may lead to increased length of stay and even mortality. NOVAD will play a key role in identifying these cases early—without any additional work from medical staff—and alerts providers when necessary.
Dr. Nimit Agarwal, chief of geriatric medicine at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix
“Our ultimate goal with this tool is to create a better standard of care that will drastically improve delirium treatment at Banner – University, and eventually across all Banner Health hospitals,” said Dr. Nimit Agarwal, chief of geriatric medicine at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. “We hope NOVAD will prove to be an invaluable asset in helping us give the best care possible to patients, especially our older patients.”
To detect delirium, NOVAD analyzes observations that have already been documented by nurses in the electronic medical record.
Dr. William Holland, senior vice president of care management and chief medical informatics officer for Banner Health
“This grant allows us to take another step in the right direction as a leading health care system for geriatric care in the Southwest,” said Dr. William Holland, senior vice president of care management and chief medical informatics officer for Banner Health. “Implementing this new diagnostic tool closely aligns with Banner’s High Reliability Organization goals by aiming to reduce harm in the hospital setting.”The project recently started in the acute care for elders unit and will expand throughout the hospital. The tool is the first of its kind that does not add any new steps in nurses’ workflows and can be easily scalable in most electronic health record systems.
Dr. Sumit Agarwal, director of analytics for Banner Health
“Data and analytics play a massive role in how we practice medicine now more than ever,” said Dr. Sumit Agarwal, director of analytics for Banner Health. “Harnessing these through new, innovative tools like NOVAD will be pivotal in how we provide quality, personalized care to everyone.”