Author: Jesse

A pilot to trial two new QIs in residential aged care services starts early next year.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is assisting the department to develop the new QIs:

• medication management
• falls and fractures.

Participation in the pilot is an opportunity for your service to trial and provide feedback on these QIs and help shape the future of the QI Program, ahead of the implementation of these additional mandatory QIs from 1 July 2021.

Read more:

Nominate your service for the new Quality Indicators (QIs) pilot

National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) pilots – Expression of Interest

About the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program

The South Australian State Emergency Service has issued a Community Readiness Alert for South Australia in response to the forecast of very hot weather for the remainder of the week.

The WA Department of Health has activated the State Hazard Plan Heatwave based on forecast temperatures for the remainder of the week, for the Perth metropolitan area. Forecasts for parts of regional WA are also unusually high for this time of year.

Read more:

Heatwave conditions in South Australia

SA Health Heatwave Information

Heatwave conditions in Western Australia

WA State Hazard Plan Heatwave activated: reminder to take care in the heat

Residential Aged Care Service – Caring for Older People in Warmer Weather (.pdf)

Residential Care Service – Preparing for an Emergency Event (.pdf)

Residential aged care services – heatwave ready resource (.pdf)

The Federal and NSW Governments have joined forces at Australia’s first Bilateral Regional Health Forum to decide how their combined investment of more than $2 billion can be maximised to boost NSW rural healthcare.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, Minister for Regional Services Mark Coulton, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Natasha Maclaren-Jones have gathered with officials and medical experts at the forum today in Wagga Wagga.

The more than $2 billion comprises recent Federal and NSW commitments on workforce, primary care and mental health initiatives that will be discussed at the forum.

The forum will focus on measures to attract doctors to the bush and increase support for people with mental health concerns, in the current climate of severe drought and bushfires.

Read more:

Boosting bush healthcare top of agenda at first rural health forum

The Australian Government is taking action on elder abuse so all senior Australians are safe and supported as they age.

Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said a key benchmark of any society is how it treats and protects its older citizens, particularly those who may be vulnerable to abuse.

“A new elder abuse awareness video and the ElderHELP mobile phone app will help prevent abuse of older people,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Elder abuse can take many unacceptable forms—physical, social, financial, psychological, and sexual, as well as mistreatment and neglect.

“The video and the mobile app mean more people will have better access to key information and practical assistance about aged care rights and support.

“The video will assist aged care staff and volunteers to identify and report abuse of older people and the free mobile phone app, ElderHELP, will assist anyone who cares for and supports older people.

Read more:

Supporting action on elder abuse

The 2018-19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 is now available from the GEN Aged Care Data website.

The report details the operation of Australia’s aged care system during the 2018–19 financial year and provides a snapshot of the system as a whole. It is delivered to Parliament each year by the Minister in accordance with section 63-2 of the Aged Care Act 1997.

Read more:

2018-19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997

2018–19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (.pdf)

Infographics – Key facts from 2018–19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (.pdf)

Infographics – Summary of 2018–19 Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 (.pdf)

In this edition:

• Commissioner message
• Getting to know the Standards – Standard 4, Services and support for daily living
• ‘From the Chief Clinical Advisor’
• Preparing for performance assessment
• Accountabilities webinar video now available

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #11 Nov 2019

A new electronic referral process allowing GPs to refer their patients to My Aged Care directly from their practice management systems is now available. After an initial pilot and some improvements based on participant feedback, the new e-Referral form can be accessed from within Best Practice, MedicalDirector and Genie practice management systems.

Benefits

The e-Referral form is easy to use and accessible through the patient’s electronic medical record.

By pre-populating patient information, the focus is on screening the patient, making it the quickest and easiest way to refer patients to My Aged Care. Once submitted, the e-Referral form is securely sent to My Aged Care.

Read more:

Referring patients to My Aged Care is now easier for GPs

‘After you’ve registered with My Aged Care’ brochure (.pdf)

Leading up to and following commencement of the Quality Standards in July this year, the Commission has given priority to providing useful information, guidance and resources for providers.

Another resource is now available – in the form of an app which gives users instant, on-the-go access to information on the Standards via your mobile device.

The app includes all the key information about each of the Quality Standards, including the consumer outcome and organisation statement, and the requirements that underpin the Standards. As well as a glossary, the app also has links to further information, guidance and resources on the Commission’s website. There is a feedback function, so users can let the Commission know what additional content they would like to see on the app.

Over time, the app will be further developed to include more information for providers and consumers to ensure that anyone needing Quality Standards content will be able to access it anywhere, anytime.

Read more:

Commissioner message – App

Download:

Google Play – Quality Standards

Apple App Store – Quality Standards

The Chief Medical Officer has written to approximately 28,000 practitioners about new resources for prescribers to support care of people with dementia who live in residential aged care.

The resources and information has been developed to help practitioners who:

• have prescribed an antipsychotic or benzodiazepine to a patient living in residential aged care
• are working in an aged care setting

These include:

• general practitioners
• specialists
• nurse practitioners
• other medical practitioners

Read more:

New resources on psychotropic prescribing in residential aged care

Prescribing of psychotropics in residential aged care

Information and resources for nurses and personal care workers

Published by: Anita Courtney, Victor Harcourt, Dr Melanie Tan, Riaza Rigby

Following the commencement of the new restraint rules (found in Part 4A of the Quality of Care Principles) in July 2019, aged care providers have been waiting for the outcome of the Standing Committee’s review of the rules.

On 26 November 2019, amendments to the rules were incorporated into the Principles by the Quality of Care Amendment (Reviewing Restraints Principles) Principles 2019.

What does the review mean for aged care providers?

Following the conclusion of the Joint Committee’s report and a Senate disallowance process, the government has resolved to keep Part 4A in place but to make a handful of amendments to clarify that they do not override the principles that otherwise apply. In particular:

• The rules do not override the principle that the prescribers of chemical restraint (be they medical practitioners or nurse practitioners) must obtain informed consent before prescribing; and
• Reference should be made to the relevant state/territory laws about who can make medical decisions or provide informed consent when a consumer can’t provide consent themselves. In other words, this makes it clear that the normal principles as to who can provide consent for the use of restraint applies. A provider cannot therefore rely on an informal representative (whether family or otherwise) to authorise restraint on an ongoing basis.

Read more:

Further changes to restraint rules in aged care: Clarity on the responsibilities of providers