Q&A: The Future of Interoperability in Senior Care
Part 2 of a Two-Part Series
In Part 1 of this series, we explored how pharmacy-EHR integration has improved communication, aligned workflows, and strengthened collaboration between pharmacy teams and senior care providers. In Part 2, we turn our attention to the future—how technology, innovation, and evolving care models are driving the next wave of progress in medication management, operational efficiency, and resident outcomes.
We continue our conversation with Taylor Hunnicutt, Senior Director of Customer Experience with Guardian Pharmacy Services.
Q: What’s one innovation you hope to see in healthcare in the next five years?
Taylor: One innovation I’d love to see is validated predictive analytics that identify residents at risk of medication-related adverse events, such as falls or hospitalizations, before they happen. Acting preemptively rather than reactively would take resident care to the next level. Just as important, though, is broader adoption of the communication tools we already have. Technology exists today that eliminates the need for phone calls and faxes, yet these outdated methods are still widely used. Tools like our GuardianNote secure messaging app and GuardianHub pharmacy portal already allow care teams to communicate and track orders in real time across any device—smartphone, tablet, or computer. To move forward, we need broader adoption of these types of digital platforms that support real-time coordination and reduce administrative burden.
Q: How do you see AI improving patient outcomes?
Taylor: AI has the potential to be a game-changer when it comes to medication safety—flagging drug interactions, predicting adherence risks, and helping clinical staff prioritize interventions. But as these tools are developed, it’s critical not to overlook the clinical expertise of our nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. Medication management is central to improving health outcomes, yet too often, AI tools are being built without pharmacist input. Including pharmacy early in the development process leads to smarter, safer solutions that better reflect the complexity of medication management in senior care.
Q: What’s one insight you’d share with technology platform developers for enhancing clinical efficiency and effectiveness?
Taylor: Build your workflows around the people actually using them. When nurses, med techs, caregivers, and pharmacy teams are supported by systems that match their daily routines, adoption happens naturally. For example, tools that eliminate phone tag—like secure messaging apps and pharmacy portals that work across any device—reduce hold times and prevent delays. At Guardian, we’ve built solutions like GuardianNote and GuardianHub with that exact purpose in mind—giving teams easy, secure access to communication and order tracking tools, whether they’re on their phone, tablet, or computer. Moving away from faxes and toward these real-time communication tools is a simple change that pays off quickly.
Q: What’s a surprising insight about healthcare finance you’ve recently learned?
Taylor: One surprising insight is how directly safe medication management connects to financial health. Preventable events like falls and hospitalizations are not only dangerous for residents—they’re also costly for providers. By improving medication safety through better integration and communication, and by facilitating stronger medication adherence among residents, we can reduce those risks and lessen the staffing burden tied to incident response. It’s a clinical strategy with real financial return. In addition, streamlining communication between care teams helps reduce the expense of labor hours tied to administrative tasks and hold times. When communication flows more efficiently, staff satisfaction, productivity, and overall operational efficiency improve—driving down costs for operators.
Q: How are real-time data and analytics transforming decision-making in senior care?
Taylor: Access to timely, actionable pharmacy data is one of the most powerful tools communities can have. Through our GuardianShield suite of services—available on-demand via our GuardianHub customer portal—operators can view real-time insights into both clinical and financial opportunities. Whether it’s identifying trends in antibiotic use, monitoring psychotropic prescribing, reducing unnecessary medications, or analyzing medication spend, these tools help communities make proactive decisions that improve outcomes. By bringing data to the forefront, we’re empowering care teams to align resident health goals with operational performance.
Q: How is Guardian using technology to improve the pharmacy experience for both residents and community staff?
Taylor: One way we are streamlining the pharmacy experience is through our new online enrollment process, which allows community admissions coordinators to enroll residents into Guardian’s LTC pharmacy services quickly and easily. All of the resident’s demographic, insurance, and payment information flows directly into our system, making the sign-up process seamless. By simplifying pharmacy onboarding during the admissions process, we’re creating a more efficient experience for staff—and a smoother, more reassuring transition for residents and their families.
We’re also using technology to help residents optimize their healthcare benefits. Our platform supports benefit plan reviews that identify residents who may be able to save on out-of-pocket medication costs by adjusting or selecting a different plan. It’s one more way we’re applying available tools to make a real-world difference in residents’ ability to access and afford the medications they need.
Conclusion
The future of interoperability in senior care isn’t just about adopting new technology—it’s about rethinking how we use the tools already available to us. From predictive analytics to secure messaging, and actionable data insights, the path forward is clear: embrace smarter systems, prioritize clinical collaboration, and keep the resident experience at the center of every innovation.
Taylor Hunnicutt
Senior Director, Customer Experience
Guardian Pharmacy Services
