A two-year independent evaluation by the University of Canberra of the deployment of a ground-breaking piece of Australian technology has found that standards in the residential aged care sector can be dramatically improved, just weeks after the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety were handed down.
The technology, 'ACE', has been developed by Canberra-based technology firm Humanetix and is a point-of-care documentation, decision-support and clinical workflow IT system to support staff care delivery for aged care residents.
Project leader, and Associate Professor of Nursing, Dr Kasia Bail said the study highlights for the first time what nurses and care workers in residential aged care facilities spend their precious time doing.
"Our study highlights not only the potential for technology to help nurses and care workers focus on care, but also an opportunity to improve practice over time," Associate Professor Bail said. "This study found 20 per cent nursing time was saved, and nurses were able to spend more quality time with residents rather than administration".
Associate Professor Bail said improvement in quality of care is the primary goal of the Royal Commission recommendations.
"This study shows improved staff access to information about residents leads directly to better quality and more efficient care. This is important when there are challenges in attracting and retaining sufficiently skilled staff to attend to person-centred care. The ACE system identifies value for money, in efficiently redirecting time for care," Associate Professor Bail said.
Humanetix Founder, Matt Darling said the Aged Care Royal Commission recommended that by July next year, aged care recipients should receive at least 200 minutes per day of care time.
"Sadly, such a benchmark is rarely met, and we know that many nurses are of the view that the most time-consuming part of their job is documentation and administration," Mr Darling said.
"This is where ACE comes in. The independent UC study confirmed our system allows nurses and carers to spend significantly more time with residents, to improve the quality of care and to provide better data about the care residents receive."
The IT system, funded by the Federal Government, has been successfully implemented at 170-bed facility, Jindalee Aged Care Residence in Canberra.
Council of the Ageing Chief Executive, Ian Yates said the results demonstrate that improving care for older Australians needs more than just throwing money at the problem.
"We not only need adequate resources, but also tested systems-based solutions that ensure the people caring for our elderly have the tools and support they need to do their jobs effectively," Mr Yates said.
"The Government is to be commended for demonstrating what is possible using an innovative Australian technology."
