Aged Care Sector Plan
The peak bodies for aged care in Australia, Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) and Aged Care Association Australia (ACAA), through the Aged Care IT Industry Council (ACIITC), have been leading the attempts to find 21st century solutions to the problems of avoidable medication related events within the aged care community.
The initial focus of these developments has been on residential aged care facilities with the intention that successful solutions should then flow on to the community care sector. A business case supporting this initiative was submitted to the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) in June 2009. In response to the business case DoHA agreed to fund additional work to undertake detailed studies into the introduction of electronic medication management in the aged care sector. During the year to 30th June 2010, the ACIITC has conducted a project aimed at proving the concept that implementing electronic medication management can transform the way care is delivered in the aged care sector.
This work already undertaken by the aged care sector peak bodies will lay the groundwork for the development of a plan, to be owned by the sector, specifically addressing how it will undertake the implementation of healthcare identifiers. NEHTA is currently working with the ACIITC to develop this plan. Any gaps and linkages which may exist with the Primary and Ambulatory Care HI Implementation Plan will also be examined and taken into consideration.