technology
In the clouds
A hopeful prediction for technology ’ s role in aged care in 2021 and beyond .
By Craig Porte
Last year would have been an eventful one for the aged care sector even without COVID-19 . With it , 2020 was a watershed moment . COVID-19 was , as the Aged Care Royal Commission put it , the greatest challenge the aged care sector has ever faced .
Three-quarters of deaths from COVID-19 in Australia have been in aged care homes . Experts say that the pandemic exposed systemic weaknesses .
With its budget announcement of $ 1.6 billion for 23,000 additional home care packages , the government has taken a significant step in the right direction to support the sector ’ s ability to support thousands more elderly Australians who need and want to receive care where they feel most comfortable – at home . Their numbers are only likely to increase in the wake of COVID-19 .
The government ’ s funding will also go some way towards helping to relieve the additional financial burden that has come about as a result of COVID-19 , which was only somewhat offset by the three temporary funding packages to support aged care providers in responding to COVID-19 announced in March and May 2020 .
Yet it won ’ t go far enough . As the Aged Care Financing Authority ’ s eighth report on the funding and financing of the aged care industry noted : COVID-19 imposed additional costs on providers and has the potential to cause significant financial disruption as well as bring into question the viability of a number of providers .
More recently , independent thinktank the Grattan Institute proposed Australia move to a new rights-based model of aged care because the current approach “ is a mess and is not fit for purpose ”. It argued the government should immediately create a $ 1 billion “ rescue fund ” to force the worst residential aged care providers to lift their quality or get out , according to the report .
As we look ahead to what we hope will be a better 2021 for the sector , I wanted to share my predictions – or hopes – for how the sector can evolve to improve its viability and ability to support those who need it more .
TECHNOLOGY WILL BE REQUIRED TO DRIVE MORE EFFICIENCY AND BETTER-QUALITY MANAGEMENT Currently most providers in the market are at the lower end of the preparedness scale when it comes to cloud technology . Around 50 per cent have no client management system in place at all and have quite a way to go to get their houses in order .
There is , however , clearer understanding than ever that technology , and cloud in particular , is the way to achieve improved cost-effectiveness and quality of care in the sector .
I expect that increased pressures within the sector will result in growing investment in cloud-based technologies to support more efficient business to government ( B2G ) interaction between aged care providers and the government .
By using cloud-based technologies and allowing more frictionless B2G engagement , the aged care sector has the potential to access more accurate and up-to-date information on clients entering the system , such as assessments , case notes , funding history and demographics – enabling them to not only streamline and accelerate existing processes but to do so at a lower cost .
This can drive greater efficiencies in processing times , as well as improving how the government allocates its funding , to ensure care is reaching those who need it in a timely way .
Through improved use of cloud technology and B2G , providers can access accurate information quickly , anywhere and at any time . If providers were able to gain greater access to accurate and timely information from the National Disability Insurance Agency ( NDIA ), including consumer details such as contacts and notes , assessments , financial package balances , and other information held by the NDIA , this would enhance the customer experience significantly .
I also forecast that we will see a greater uptake of self-service and digital engagement tools in the aged care and community care sectors in 2021 . This will also improve client-centred care , giving elderly and vulnerable Australians more control over the care they receive by allowing them to access and actively participate in their care plans , purchase and manage services as well as their funding packages .
THE RISK OF A LESS POSITIVE OUTCOME The biggest risk facing the aged care and disability sectors in 2021 is that the implementation of digital technology takes too long , leaving providers to operate using manual and complex processes . This often creates long wait times for vulnerable applicants who require immediate support . It will be essential to accelerate the time in which digital technologies are implemented so that providers can streamline workflows and have improved visibility over funds .
2021 is the year when technology must begin to play an even greater role in how the aged care and disability sectors meet this demand – and supports those in the sectors today , both staff and clients . ■
Craig Porte is managing director of Civica Care .
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