New digital roster system aims to free care workers
Digital technology is increasingly helping home care providers improve efficiencies in their mobile workforces.
A new digital platform that allows community care workers to view, create, change and cancel shifts from a mobile device while they are in the field has joined the market.
CarelinkAir Roster, released by cloud software company Civica in November, builds on the company’s current CarelinkAir platform, which gives staff access to digital forms while away from the office.
The technology adds to a range of currently available community care digital solutions that are designed to reduce data entry duplication and enable employee and client data to be accessed remotely.
Quality Assurance officer at Indigenous support services provider Kari, Meagan McLean, says the technology has helped the provider meet documentation requirements and helps staff to focus on delivering services to clients rather than doing paperwork.
Disability services provider Lifestyle solutions has also adopted the platform.
Designed in partnership with users
The new roster system was designed in partnership with existing users who provided input through a series of focus groups, says Civica Managing Director Craig Porte.
“Moving one of the biggest administration tasks in people’s roles to the cloud has been a critical step in our evolution of CarelinkAir and we have enjoyed the process of working closely with our customers to meet the specific needs of carers, clients, and administrators,” he said in a statement.
Mr Porte predicts that technology will play an ever increasing role in driving efficiencies and improving margins for providers in 2020, as it provides an avenue for carers to do their administrative tasks in the field.
“They’ll be updated via their own devices with the client’s care plan, tasks to be done, any last-minute changes or requests from family,” he said.
He also said technology would improve risk management and reporting and payroll processing, as well as helping meet compliance requirements.
Mobile tools and client management technology will also feature strongly in the NDIS market in the coming year, Mr Porte says.
“Interoperability will be key. One example where this will make a big difference is in being able to see what has been drawn down on a person’s care package to prevent unfunded services being undertaken,” he said.
“It’s essential to speed up and improve visibility around those funds if providers are going to survive by driving the necessary efficiencies. NDIA is now talking to the industry about better integration so we expect movement on this in 2020.”
Only 50 per cent of community care operators currently have a client management system in place, Mr Porte says.
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