Development and innovations

In 1988, Attendo (then called Svensk Hemservice AB) won its first contract in Danderyd. The first innovation occurred shortly thereafter when a home journal for social documentation was introduced, something that later became a legislated requirement.

Early on, Attendo developed a system with a contact person, which meant that each client should have a personally appointed and responsible contact person who has the overall responsibility for all activities. In 1992, when Attendo was given its first assignment outside of Stockholm - the nursing home Skogshill in Malmö - Malmö municipality, as the first municipality, conducted a client survey, something that previously was not seen as necessary.

Over the next ten years, a long list of quality innovations occurred. Attendo introduced an our own medical head nurse (MAS) for follow-up and evaluation of the service. The next step was taken when a central independent quality audit of all operations was introduced. In conjunction with this, analyses of quality data were digitalised. Shortly after the new millennium, Attendo became the first to have an independent quality department.

During the 00s, the innovations continued within digital quality tools. In 2005, Attendo created the first award winning quality system AQ05. After that, Attendo introduced electronic reporting of quality data. The system has been updated several times and after the latest update, it is now called AQ19. The new version receives and analyses over 1 billion activities annually provided to Attendo’s almost 30,000 clients.

At the end of the 00s, Attendo began to focus more on user satisfaction and transparency. As a part of this, Attendo offers all clients own time with their contact person. In 2009, Attendo launched The Quality Thermometer that measures the quality of each individual unit. After that, Attendo began to openly disclose reports according to Lex Sarah and Lex Maria on its website.

During the beginning of the 10s, Attendo developed a strategy for evidence based praxis so that all operations follow the latest research findings. As the first company in the industry, Attendo presented an Annual Quality Report in May 2012. The report is published annually, and has since 2017 been replaced by an Annual Quality and Sustainability Report.

Attendo launched suggestions for national quality follow-up – Senior Lotsen. At this time, Attendo even opened its first lifestyle living, that further adapts the environment and activities to the clients preferences and interests.

In 2016, a trial is initiated to digitize home care through the app Mobil Omsorg (Mobile Care). Through the app, employees recieve their daily tasks straight to their mobile, and they register in the app when and how the care instances have been given. During 2017, Mobil Omsorg is implemented throughout the home care, and in 2018, Attendos care homes are also implementing the app.

Digitalization of care has in the last few years led Attendo to create a new app for employees - Appendo (Sweden) and ATSO (Finland) - and launched an app for relatives - Attendo Nära. Through these apps, employees can communicate with each other or relatives in an easy way, and let relatives take part in the everyday life of their loved ones.

Attendo Way is our common way of working, a handbook for leaders to organize every operation according to our best practice. Each segment has it's own version with instructions on how to manage and setup the local unit according to our routines and best ways of working.

In 2022, Attendo launched new ways of working with quality of life. The aim is to assess the situation for each individual recieving care, and find the best actions that can lead to improvements. In Sweden, we are implementing quality of life interviews in nursing homes based on the so called ASCOT method (Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit). Our implementation of the standardized RAI method (Residents Assesment Instrument) in Finland include a new measurement for quality of life for each resident.