Up to one-third of the time spent by aged care workers on administration tasks could be saved through the better use of digital technologies, according to the federal government’s new Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy, with more time available for direct care.

Released in July, the Strategy and its Action Plan will guide the digital transformation of Australia’s aged care services, improving the care and wellbeing of older people, and ensuring services are more accessible and efficient.

The state-of-the-art sector of five years time will include virtual nursing, AI, virtual reality, data sharing and enhanced cybersecurity.

The Strategy “aims to empower aged care workers, service providers and health professionals by increasing digital capabilities, streamlining workflows, promoting effective cross-disciplinary communication, reducing administration, and facilitating the use of new technologies.”

It is designed to maximise time for direct care by building “organisational digital capabilities and digital skills of the workforce, so less time is spent on non-care activities, including duplicative data entry, administration, communication and information collection.”

The Strategy also claims it will improve care coordination, enhance treatment outcomes, provide a more holistic and person-centred approach to care via the seamless flow of information across health, aged care, allied health and other care sectors: “[The] purpose is to create an integrated and connected care ecosystem, ensuring that relevant data can be shared securely and efficiently where needed. The story and information of an older person should flow seamlessly between health and aged care professionals, utilising treatment plans and ensuring timely interventions.”

Data collection, use and security will also be improved: “Improving data access and usage in aged care transforms data into a powerful tool for continuous improvement and decision-making, ultimately leading to enhanced care and wellbeing for older people.”

Federal Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said digital reform is key to delivering the Government’s aged care agenda.

“With older people at its centre, the Digital Strategy aims to increase digital health literacy of older people, giving them greater choice and independence as they age,” the Minister said.

“Designing the best aged care system for older people in Australia means embracing innovation and the technologies available so we can continue to restore dignity to aged care.”

The Strategy is in response to the royal commission’s final report in 2021, which found that aged care was “well behind other sectors in the use and application of technology”.

It recommended a ‘collect once, use many times’ principle, as well as greater use of digital systems, My Health Record and assistive technologies.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified gaps in digital literacy and aged care data and digital technologies that hinder high-quality care, including:

• Information on aged care services often being complex and hard to find, making accessing services difficult. 
• Varying levels of digital maturity across the aged care sector, with disconnected, and at times paper-based care management systems. 
• Many services used by older people are not connected and do not ‘speak’ with each other. This makes it difficult to have a complete view of the pathways and outcomes they have across service providers, interactions with Government, and within the broader health system. 
• Fragmented and incomplete data, with notable gaps in areas such as workforce, finance, regular assessment of care needs, quality of life, quality, and safety of care. 
• A lack of consistent data standards to support software development and the reuse of data.

~ Source: Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy

“Technology is key to addressing many of the inefficiencies, high costs and care pressures we are seeing in the sector,” Rohling CEO Darren Gossling said.

“We can help aged care providers who need to streamline their operations, break down data silos, reduce the administrative burdens on staff and ensure compliance by providing them with independent, expert advice on the right solutions to suit their needs.”

The stakes are high in the provision of aged care, and demands are growing. By 2062, the number of people aged over 65 is expected to more than double, while the number of people over the age of 85 will more than triple.

“Service providers are under pressure to transform, and the government’s efforts to shift the sector into the future have reinforced the need for advanced systems,” Darren said.

“We guide organisations through implementations and upgrades to make sure they are minimally disruptive, embraced by staff, and as stress-free as possible. With Rohling’s support, introducing a new tech can be a positive process with exceptional benefits.”

The Strategy will also encourage innovation by empowering future investment, establishing innovation frameworks and providing digital guidelines.

The Government, meanwhile, will continue to work with states and territories to better connect aged care with health and other care sectors, including disability support and veterans’ care.

The Action Plan has been published to provide further information on how the Strategy will be implemented. It will be updated regularly with progress reporting and new data and digital improvement activities. 

Read the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy and Action Plan.

For information on how Rohling can help aged care providers innovate and meet the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy’s vision for an interconnected system, contact us.