Small insights can lead to big breakthroughs – something Spurwink, a Maine‑based agency supporting
individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities, has experienced firsthand. When staff at Spurwink learned about
Therap Connect’s tools for automated data collection, they recognized it as an opportunity to embrace
technology and enhance the services they offer. Since implementing Therap Connect, Spurwink has witnessed
numerous benefits to the organization and the individuals they support.
David Van Tassel, Associate Director of Adult Services at Spurwink, was eager to try Therap Connect. “I like
to work with new
shiny things,” he says. As an early adopter of Therap Connect, Spurwink integrated smart health devices,
including sleep mats, scales, blood pressure cuffs, and thermometers, into their daily supports. These
devices send health metrics into Therap automatically, providing quick access to invaluable insights. For
Spurwink, this data has allowed staff to make more informed decisions and address individuals’ needs faster
than what was possible with traditional methods.
Therap Connect has played a key role in Spurwink’s support strategies, particularly for an individual
with a history of behavioral challenges. “We had worked with [the individual] for a number of years with
different plans and different medications to get [his behaviors] as stable as we could," Van Tassel
explains. Staff implemented a sleep mat to better understand how the individual was sleeping. “Within
the first week there was a pattern – the most REM sleep he got was 30 minutes or less and most nights it
was none,” says Van Tassel.
This data allowed Spurwink
to see a correlation between the individual’s sleep patterns and behavior. “We started to be able to link
behavior struggles and irritation…to the nights he had the least amount of REM sleep, which gave us the data
we needed to approach the psychiatrist and the doctor to start working [on his] sleep,” says Van Tassel. “As
we did that, he started getting more quality sleep and his body didn't need as many meds. His psychiatrist
has cut his meds and he's now on the lowest amount of behavior meds he's been on [in years].” By leveraging
Therap Connect, Spurwink was able to address the individual’s low sleep quality, leading to a better quality
of life.
This story demonstrates
the power of automated data collection. "If you're working with people who are nonverbal, they can't tell
you what's going on in their body…You can be working with doctors and making guesses and shots in the dark
for six months to a year and maybe find out what's going on,” Van Tassel explains. With limited information,
providers often have to rely on trial and error, potentially delaying effective interventions. “If your
primary care physician [orders] a sleep study, you get one night. The sleep mat actually gives you
reoccurring data every night,” says Van Tassel. Therap Connect helps providers facilitate informed
decision‑making by delivering continuous, real‑time insights, ultimately improving the lives of
the
individuals they support.
Through innovative tools
like Therap Connect, Spurwink continues to redefine what it means to provide truly individualized
support—ensuring that every person they serve receives the best possible care tailored to their unique
needs.
See for yourself how Therap can boost your team's communication
and documentation efficiency!
Spurwink's Journey with Therap Connect:
Transforming Lives with Smart Sleep Mats
Ready to Improve Team Communication?
Author: Claire Faulkner
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Category:
User Story
If your primary care physician [orders] a sleep study, you get one night. The sleep mat actually
gives you reoccurring data every night.