AI-powered “Cera Brain” platform increases social care sector capacity while delivering higher wages to Aberdeenshire carers

• Cera Brain joins its existing suite of AI products
• Digitising business allows Cera to pay carers more
• Utilising AI to optimise capacity allowing carers to see 20% more patients per day 
• 50,000 appointments per day and growing, saving the NHS up to £1m per day

Cera, the largest digital-first home healthcare company in Europe, today announces the addition of a groundbreaking, multifaceted AI technology platform, Cera Brain. The new features go live in Liverpool, Aberdeenshire and Norfolk as Cera hits 50,000 appointments per day, saving the NHS up to £1m per day.

Cera collect and analyse more data than any other home healthcare company in Europe and Cera Brain joins its rapidly expanding suite of AI products which aim to solve the challenges the sector is facing. These include an unprecedented bed-blocking crisis, severe staff shortages which are twice the vacancy rate compared to the national average (11%), stretched budgets and a lack of funding.

Cera focuses its technology development on two main areas: optimising operations to increase efficiency, and utilising technology and data to help predict and prevent health outcomes. Cera Brain’s focus is the former, which through AI and the automation of day to day tasks aims to make the sector more sustainable as there is less overhead cost, which allows them to pay carers better. This also takes the burden off care staff and empowers them with more time to provide more of a human connection on more personal tasks. This approach has provided Cera with a scalable way to look after more patients which can further alleviate pressure on the NHS and wider healthcare sector.

Cera Brain is built around three key areas; frontline staff, patients and operational delivery.

By utilising analytics and AI-powered rostering tools, Cera Brain reduces administrative tasks, allowing carers to see 20% more patients per day. It does this by reviewing all of the tasks it can automate and forecasting the supply and demand of carers, which results in better utilisation of carers who have more time to deliver care. This has the ability to accurately predict fluctuations in staffing levels across all UK operations, enabling efficient matching of carers to patients, focusing attention on the regions which require it most and ensuring carers see the same patients for better continuity of care. For example, if a carer is unwell or running late Cera Brain will suggest the best alternative carer, taking into consideration their location, journey, route and mileage to ensure they can get to the patient quickly and efficiently.

Another key feature of Cera’s suite of AI technology is its ability to predict when a patient’s health might be deteriorating. It does this through collecting data at multiple stages of a patients care journey; by automatically transcribing conversations between carers and patients and creating care plans (through the use of GPT technology); visit reports from carers; and later this year medication charts, to create a 360 profile of the patient. It then uses this data, and the data from each at-home appointment to assess and anticipate if the service user’s health is worsening. This empowers carers to take proactive action before conditions decline, ensuring timely intervention and better overall health management. This is a USP of Cera’s and its use of this state of the art technology alleviates pressure from the NHS which is key at a time when over 13,000 NHS hospital beds are occupied by patients fit to be discharged into social care.

Cera Brain compliments Cera’s wider suite of AI technology, including smart scheduling, GPT-powered care plans, AI monitoring, health outcome improvement and carer flight risk prediction. It gives Cera a significant competitive advantage to increase efficiency by utilising technology to take on admin tasks, onboard clients quicker and optimise structure and workforce. Cera is leading the way in leveraging technology to tackle the challenges faced within the healthcare industry and make a difference.

Elaine Paris-Eley, a Cera Carer who has worked in the sector for over a decade in Essex & Havering, said: “Our job is to give patients the support they need when they need it. There is an unprecedented care crisis in the UK like never before, so streamlining paperwork and process will benefit, deliver more care, and stop much-needed carers from leaving the sector..”

Dr Ben Maruthappu, CEO and Co-founder of Cera comments “At Cera we are revolutionising the industry for the better. We use technology to help us digitise the way we run the business, which means that in the long-term our carers are paid more as our operating costs are lower. By utilising AI we can have a more laser focused approach which allows us to deliver care where it’s needed most, something which is integral considering the staffing challenges we are experiencing in social care. At Cera it’s not about replacing staff with AI, but giving carers more time for human connection and tasks which require a personal touch, which we feel passionately about.”