United Methodist Communities Earns McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Bronze Award
Accushield Visitor Management System positively enhances safety
United Methodist Communities (UMC) won Bronze in McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards for implementing the Accushield Visitor Management System in all its full-service communities and one affordable housing community (Safety Category, Senior Living Track). The system replaces the paper sign-in logs at entrances and instead, uses a touchscreen sticker-badge printing tablet. The result is the ability to better track and identify visitors.
UMC purposefully pursues digital improvements for residents, visitors, associates, and guests alike. Accushield is one example of technology that delivers richer experiences and meets the needs and wants of its stakeholders. Due to heightened awareness of unwelcome visitors in public venues including senior living communities, UMC chose Accushield. This user-friendly digital solution regulates, tracks, and identifies visitors, and prints date-and-time stamped name sticker-badges. It replaces the former paper sign-in logs at reception desks.
With resident and associate safety at the forefront, UMC installed the system with this goal in mind. Since implementation in 2018, the system has recorded over 22,000 vendor, 70,000 family/friend, and 700 volunteer logins. These groups have successfully learned to use the system and praised its benefits.
UMC President and CEO, Larry Carlson, states, “Tools like Accushield demonstrate our commitment to innovation and security. This product is a must-have for any senior living community as it safeguards the residents and controls movement into and out of our buildings.”
Besides enhancing overall security, Accushield has many useful applications. It allows associates system-wide to identify and engage with residents who have not received visitors, especially those with few local friends or family members. They then take steps to increase their social connections, a vital component of wellness.
The system confirms the credentials of third party care providers and other vendor visitors. Accushield not only gives up-to-the-minute lists of people onsite in the communities, but also creates accurate resident lists during emergency drills and actual emergencies.
An independent panel of senior living and skilled care experts judged all submissions for the McKnight’s competition.
