Julie Burton, Head of Operations at Azalea Court, has led a remarkable transformation in how the care home collaborates with external professionals. By creating a multidisciplinary team (MDT) model and building internal expertise, Azalea Court has become a leader in proactive, resident-centred care.
Introducing Multi Disciplinary Team meetings at Azalea Court
Traditionally, when residents are discharged from hospitals to care homes, they’re handed over to community services with little ongoing involvement from the hospital’s multidisciplinary team. Recognising this gap, Julie and her team at Azalea Court took the initiative to bring the MDT model into the care home environment.
“At hospitals, patients would be discussed by a range of professionals—surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists—before discharge. We wanted to bring that same level of collaboration to our residents,” Julie explained.
Azalea Court now hosts monthly MDT meetings on-site, where GPs, community matrons, dietitians, physiotherapists, and other specialists gather to discuss each resident’s care plan.
Gaining external professional buy-in
Building an effective MDT model required cooperation from external professionals. Julie knew that to get GPs and community teams on board, she would need to offer them a compelling reason to participate. “We needed to show the GPs and community matron teams that this MDT process would benefit them as much as it would benefit the residents,” Julie said.
By inviting them to the care home, hosting meetings in a welcoming environment, and providing a great lunch, Azalea Court quickly became a place where healthcare professionals wanted to engage. “It wasn’t just about the lunch—although that helped! It was about creating an environment where professionals felt valued and could see the benefits of collaborating,” Julie shared.
Building an internal Multi Disciplinary Team
Julie has also taken the bold step of creating its own internal MDT, including a physiotherapist, dietitian, and occupational therapist, who are all on the care home’s payroll. This internal team works alongside the external professionals to create a fully integrated approach to resident care.
“Most nursing homes don’t have the resources to employ their own specialists, but we’ve made it a priority,” Julie explained. “Our internal MDT allows us to be proactive in addressing each resident’s needs.”
The MDT Process: How digital tools enhance care
During the MDT meetings, the team reviews each resident’s care plan in depth. Digital tools like Ally’s Resident Monitoring system, Nourish, and PainChek play a critical role in this process, providing data and insights on each resident such as medication schedules, pain levels, and behaviour patterns.
Improved outcomes through data-driven care
The integration of these systems ensures that changes in a resident’s condition are quickly identified and addressed. “Staff will look at the Nourish, Ally and Painchek reports for each resident to determine if they need to make adjustments to care, or medication or to health changes. This has led to better outcomes for our residents,” Julie noted.
A unique model in the care sector
Julie Burton’s leadership has created a unique care model at Azalea Court, where technology, internal expertise, and external collaboration come together to provide residents with the best possible care. The use of Ally, Nourish, and PainChek ensures that every resident’s care plan is based on real-time, data-driven insights, while the MDT process ensures that all relevant professionals are involved in their care.
“What we’re doing at Azalea Court is different. We’re not just a care home—we’re a community where residents receive continuous, holistic care from a range of professionals,” Julie said.
Conclusion
Julie Burton’s innovative use of multidisciplinary collaboration, supported by digital tools like Ally, Nourish, and PainChek, has transformed care at Azalea Court. Her leadership in integrating these systems into daily operations ensures that residents receive personalised, proactive and responsive care.
If you’re keen to create your own unique approach to enhancing resident care, talk to us today to understand how we can work together to deliver better care outcomes for your residents and team.