Stronger with data

HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP MEET THE CHALLENGES OF REFORM IN 2022

As the Australian aged care sector grapples with the ongoing challenges associated with COVID-19, 2022 is also shaping up to be a year of regulatory change. The Government’s plan for upcoming reform aims to improve the consumer experience by overhauling assessment and funding processes, and to hold providers and boards accountable for quality by updating reporting obligations.

Technology and data are by no means a silver bullet, but they can play a significant role in reducing the impact and disruption of regulatory change. Clever solutions will not only ensure compliance, but will also lessen the administrative burden on staff, allowing them to focus on care.

Which changes can data and technology solutions be applied to this year?

This year, changes to provider reporting will require increasingly detailed and frequent submissions, both to the Government and to consumers.

This year will see the commencement of the quarterly version of the Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) and the expansion of the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) to in-home care. The information provided in the ACFR, particularly around staffing hours, will also support the consumer-facing Star Rating system.

Additionally, from July 2022 providers will be required to provide a monthly care statement to consumers (or families/ carers) outlining the care received and reporting any significant changes.

Notably, with the current Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) being replaced in October by the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC), providers will be under pressure to increase average care minutes to 200 minutes per resident per day, with 40 minutes of registered nurse time.

With 84 per cent of aged care homes falling well short of this in 2021, it is clear staff time is a premium.

Again, data and technology are no panacea, but if solutions can be put in place that reduce the administrative burden on care staff, every minute saved counts.

What do providers need to implement to successfully meet the challenges of 2022?

Interoperable, fit-for-purpose solutions are critical for providers looking to successfully meet the challenges of the new legislation requirements.

Some potential solutions (noting that this is not an exhaustive list) include:

1. A best-of-breed incident management system that will aid with SIRS reporting. An electronic system will allow for easier transfer of data to the online reporting form and supports the identification of trends to mitigate risks and incidents.

2. A rostering system that can be quickly amended in line with the changing case mix. Being able to integrate this system with others becomes essential to produce insights and evidence. In the example of AN-ACC, with clinical and casemix data often held separately to staffing and rostering data, this need is amplified.

3. A complaints management system. This will support an enhanced understanding of consumer expectations as the introduction of star ratings drives a move towards a more competitive market. It is worth implementing this solution to do the heavy lifting, capturing consumer feedback and generating actionable insights. There is value in integrating this with CRM systems for a comprehensive view of clients and their families. An added analytics capability aids in reporting and issue identification and will assist providers in meeting their obligations under the Aged Care Quality standards.

Data warehousing and analytics can aggregate data from these systems, enabling insights that lead to more effective decision making. This will be crucial for providers who need to rethink their key performance requirements to conform to the new AN-ACC funding system, as well as for any abrupt rostering or staffing challenges as teams are forced into COVID-19 isolation.

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Key takeaways for 2022:

1. Interoperability gives carers more time to care. Ensuring that systems talk to each other reduces the need for repeated effort in administrative tasks.

2. Modern database solutions are crucial for enabling a deep understanding of what is happening within the organisation. This allows providers to better adapt to, and manage challenges, when in combination with analysis and reporting tools.

3. Engage the support of a trusted technology implementation partner. A company with an understanding of, and experience with, aged care industry pain points and requirements will offer the best support.

Joash Belousoff is Executive Partner, Novigi. For more information visit www.novigi.com.au

1. Interoperability gives carers more time to care. Ensuring that systems talk to each other reduces the need for repeated effort in administrative tasks.