The time is ripe to reimagine operations

The key to surmounting the complexities of digitising the aged care sector is working together, writes Mathews Varughis.

The key to surmounting the complexities of digitising the aged care sector is working together, writes Mathews Varughis.

A growing ageing population in Australia, staff shortages, limited funding and several other factors, including those caused by the pandemic, have put unprecedented pressure on the aged care sector. 

Whilst those in the sector demand more federal government funding to address some of the serious challenges they are facing, many experts believe it suffers from a systemic problem and throwing more money at the sector will be a futile venture until some of its fundamental challenges can be resolved.

Since resourcing is one of the critical challenges the aged care sector faces, finding solutions that can enable smarter resourcing and more efficient care provision is needed to overcome the multifaceted challenges of the industry today.

Post-pandemic, the aged care sector has a ripe opportunity to reimagine its operations. This report written by RMIT, explains that using technology to automate and monitor medical devices will significantly improve the quality of care and reduce carers’ time spent on non-care tasks.

Digitising the industry by integrating medical devices into a connected IT monitoring system can deliver a multifaceted solution to the equally complex problem, improving efficiencies and optimising resources. However, adopting transformative structural changes presents significant challenges and complexities for a sector already facing significant resource difficulties.

Overcoming tradition in a profoundly analogue industry

Digitisation is an advanced use of technology, and the aged care sector is renowned for being deeply analogue. The Aged Care Royal Commission’s report found that the “aged care system is well behind other sectors in the use and application of technology.”

According to KPMG’s Aged Care Market Analysis in 2022, new aged care companies are offering innovative business and operating models, providing good customer experiences supported by enabling technology. Unfortunately, some large established aged care providers are being left behind.

Typically, overcoming the traditional methodology is achieved through education around the benefits. The workforce will likely welcome the change once learning that integrating a diverse range of equipment into a centralised monitoring system helps teams and facilities run more efficiently while providing more personalised and quality care.

Still, facility managers may remain reluctant if the transition causes productivity or safety issues that strain their already pressured workforce.

Non-existent downtime requires a seamless transition

A primary concern in digitising aged care technology is its adaptability, inefficiencies, and time lost during transitions. Since the industry has little time and money to invest in systemic changes, a smooth transition and ease of use are essential to minimise downtime.

Connecting medical equipment such as diagnostics, wearable devices, and point of care solutions will ensure that someone is notified when they become faulty. If this someone is a specialist IT monitoring company, they can seamlessly manage their tasks, including notifying care staff and troubleshooting.

Transitioning from workable, albeit not optimised devices, into an integrated system can pose risks and complexities as important information and patient records must remain accessible. In the same way, it is possible to execute a transition that protects data whilst keeping all devices functioning during the process.

Patient adaptability

Technology may be foreign to many patients treated in the aged care sector. While it may be a tired stereotype, technology-adverse patients can cause some genuine concern about the digitisation of the industry.

For example, during the pandemic, telehealth helped many patients receive care without exposing themselves to Covid-19, but it also reduced the mental wellbeing of aged care and dementia patients who felt further isolated.

Digitisation has the potential to expand virtual care, telehealth and home care capabilities as carers have more confidence in the equipment used to support their patients. The workforce needs to understand their patients and the intricacies of their social needs.

An objective of digitisation is to reduce staff time spent on non-duty care, so they have more time for their caring duties. Therefore, optimising each patient’s care plan means digitisation can combat this concern when devices are fully monitored and working correctly.

Privacy and cybersecurity concerns

Digitising technology to engage the workforce better, minimise costs and support high-quality care requires connection to a centralised monitoring network. This solution includes automatic data collection and biometric technology to monitor patient metrics and care time. Recent studies state that 30 per cent of the world’s data is generated by the health sector.

Connecting devices, including frontline IT equipment, wearable devices, POC solutions, telehealth, virtual care, patient portals and digital engagement with the Internet of Things results in a larger attack surface.

Unfortunately, this makes the aged care industry an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to steal valuable health data for monetary gain. Overcoming this complexity is a big task, but the aged care sector and cybersecurity companies continue to work together to implement solutions that protect them. The ongoing challenge is to ensure the protections in place are monitored to ensure they are functioning as they should be.

The lack of centralised monitoring in aged care

Budgetary issues have contributed to the lack of digitisation in aged care. With tight operational budgets and profit margins under pressure, providers do not feel they are able to make investments in technology. There is also a perception that the aged care workforce will not adapt to a digital way of working.

However, past barriers to the implementation and use of digital solutions in aged care, are increasingly attainable due to IT costs falling, services being offered on a subscription basis, increasing digital literacy and better WiFi.

The takeout

Digitisation is a significant structural change for the aged care sector. Streamlining an entire industry comes with a complex set of challenges. The key to overcoming these complexities is working together and helping the industry and its workforce understand the benefits of digitisation. It is critical to have centralised monitoring to eliminate downtime, ensure patient care continuity and optimise limited resources.

Mathew Varughis is sales manager for Australia and New Zealand at Paessler

Comment on the story below. Do you have an opinion to share about an issue or something topical in the aged care sector? Get in touch at editorial@australianageingagenda.com.au

Tags: digitising, paessler,

1 thought on “The time is ripe to reimagine operations

  1. Digitisation of the aged care sector seems an inevitability which is a good thing. If we only focus on current clients, we remain with the stereotype that they are technology adverse. In reality, a large proportion of older people already engaged with technology in different ways and the generation that follows (that’s me) is more likely to have some comfort about new technologies. However, the digitisation of services needs to be respectful of care with its human elements.

    I wonder who is talking to people in their 60s to explore meaning of ageing…. I think we need to ask my generation about the reimagination of care.

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