Gauging efficiency and effectiveness in aged care

A new study will look at opportunities for productivity gains in residential facilities.

A new research project will shed valuable light on the clinical and business processes in residential aged care.

Commissioned by software company AutumnCare, the study will be conducted by the University of Sydney’s Health Informatics Research and Evaluation Unit (HIREU).

The project will identify areas where providers can achieve productivity gains, said AutumnCare’s Managing Director, Stuart Hope.

“What we are trying to do is obtain some fundamental research and empirical data on what happens to support the delivery of care in aged care facilities,” he said. “We have given them a broad slate to look at how effective and efficient those processes are.”

The project will be based on focus groups, data collection at a select number of facilities in NSW and Victoria and a national survey, due to be held in October this year.

The HIREU was selected to conduct the project because of a successful study it completed on hospital processes.

It reported in the Medical Journal of Australia that between 30 and 40 per cent of an acute clinician’s time is spent on communication.

The HIREU’s Professor Johanna Westbrook said it was refreshing to see an Australian company commissioning healthcare research.

“Despite the widespread community concern about the viability and sustainability of aged care services, there is little evidence about what can be done to improve its efficiency and effectiveness and enhance the quality of care provided to residents,” she said.

“Residential aged care facilities remain a largely neglected area of research investigation and this project will make an important contribution to providing new evidence about work processes and how information technology might support improvements in care.”

Mr Hope believes the study will produce broad benefits for the sector.

“I think it will help them in their discussions with government and other stakeholders,” he said. “If you have real data saying compliance costs ‘x’ numbers of hours each day, that can be compelling.”

The study will receive a $50,000 grant from the federal government’s Enterprise Connect initiative.

Mr Hope expects a preliminary report from the study will be ready in September and the initial analysis of the final data should be made public next February or March.

Tags: autumncare, research, residential-aged-care, university-of-sydney,

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