Kirsten Hinze

The Department of Health and Aged Care has released a new 24/7 nursing API that enables providers to directly report care minutes to the government. The API can be integrated by aged care software vendors into their systems once they have passed a conformance process with the Australian Digital Health Agency. The care minutes initiative mandates direct care from registered and enrolled nurses and personal care attendants, with current targets for the sector at 201.70 minutes of direct care per resident per day, including 40 minutes of nursing care. Once the API is integrated, aged care providers can report the 24/7 nursing figures directly into GPMS. Provider management and authentication APIs have also been released into the production environment. Another API for quality indicators has been released into the software testing environment. Latest figures show that 52 per cent of aged care providers are meeting their total care minutes targets, and 46 per cent are meeting the nurse minute targets. #digitalhealth #agedcare #healthtechnology #innovation #digitaltransformation #nursinginformatics

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It’s really obvious that to improve health outcomes in the population means investing in helping people stay well; that is additionally challenging for those with socioeconomic complexity. Our health funding constructs are not set up to incentivise prioritisation of maintaining wellness in community. Not an easy problem to fix but one worth collective investment across state, federal, non-profits and private’s to invest time to un-pick the complexity and simplify funding to promote wellness.

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🖥 THE VIEWER: NAVIGATING THE UPCOMING TRANSITION IN 2025 🖥 | The Viewer, also known as the Health Provider Portal, provides registered and authenticated healthcare providers with access to a summary of their patient’s healthcare details, via a QGov account. In early 2025, the Queensland Government will be retiring QGov accounts, so users will need to transition to the Queensland Digital Identity (QDI) to continue accessing The Viewer. The QDI system is modern, robust, and innovative, using the latest technology to safeguard your private information. ▶ Transitioning from the QGov identity system – the next steps! ✅ How you prepare for the transition will depend upon several factors – whether you have a Digital License app (DLA), and if you do, whether the key details match between your DLA and QGov accounts. 📝 To understand what steps you need to take next to transition your QGov account to a QDI account, view the checklist at ➡ https://lnkd.in/gmRbTEy8 To learn more about The Viewer, visit ▶ https://lnkd.in/gP2xaESZ

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After presenting Telecare 's Virtual Outpatients work at Mackay Hospital and Health Service at Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) 's #HIC2024 conference yesterday, we dig some digging after thoughts stimulated by the presentation. Although our official FTA rate is 4.9% vs 7.9% QLD telehealth state average, our actual "vacancy" rate (I.e. unfilled specialist physician appointment slots) is an astounding 0.97% for new patients and 1.86% for review patients. This is thanks to the tireless work of both Mackay and Telecare teams, and also the incredible power of utilising "Workflow" (also known as OPAU) our proprietary software which allows us to engage patients effectively, and flag likely FTAs and intervene to swap "ready for care" patients into FTA slots. This reduces any waste in the system and ensures MHHS resources are spent wisely on providing impactful clinical care. #digitalhealth #healthcareinnovation #telehealth #virtualcare

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TECHNOLOGY AUDITS - WHY ?? Do a technology audit. Consider how the organisation’s various technology systems support a central approach to management and data insights. Read more here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/g4dpfuqg #DigitalInnovation #DigitalTransformation #AgedCare #HealthTech‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

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Jump to the second story in the article (cut and pasted below). So someone had a blood blister and ended up needing an over complicated series of “solutions” to end up being told it’s a blood blister? I hate to be repetitive but MAYBE YOU COULD JUST FUND GPs PROPERLY AND THEY WOULD VISIT AGED CARE HOMES instead of building complicated work arounds? I’m all for accessible digital health but if this is the best example you’re choosing to publish to prove what a great investment this is you’re living on another planet…. So this “solution” was: - expensive Telehealth carts everywhere - an RN on the ward escalated to a nurse practitioner - the nurse practitioner escalated to an emergency department consultant - the virtual ED consultant determined it was a blood blister Surely the bigger story is why was this patient even involving the hospital system in the first place? Would the better answer not been - RACF RN concerned, makes on the day urgent Telehealth appointment with GP or their clinic who looks after the patient - GP reviews, decides it’s a blood blister The reason that doesn’t happen is GPs refuse to engage to RACFs as the remuneration is so poor for what is often a barrage of paperwork and risk dumping. They want to do the work but the red tape and lack of pay is crippling. WA PRIMARY HEALTH ALLIANCE WAPHA is rolling out 180 telehealth carts to aged care facilities across the state. These carts, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, enable quick and efficient communication with GPs and other clinicians, improving access to care and reducing unnecessary hospital visits. Magnolia House at Brightwater Oxford Gardens recently used the cart to support a 74-year-old resident who presented with a necrotic blood blister on the tip of his left big toe. The nurse practitioner assessed the patient on-site and, concerned about the resident’s medical history, requested an urgent Doppler test and a transfer to the emergency department, suspecting a diabetic foot ulcer or gangrene. The WA Virtual ED was initiated by Joondalup Health Campus prior to sending out an ambulance, and an ED consultant was able to use the telehealth cart’s high-resolution cameras to examine the toe. Upon examination, it was determined that the cause was related to a hematoma secondary to trauma rather than a gangrenous toe. The patient was happy to be able to stay at the facility and receive the appropriate treatment on-site. The remote clinician commented that the cart helped prevent an unnecessary and uncomfortable visit to the emergency department. Additionally, it helped avoid any possible complications that could have arisen from the visit. Practices can view a list of RACHs with Visionflex’s telehealth technology or contact [email protected] for additional support. This equipment has been made available through funding under the Australian Government aged care reform package.

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📰 Industry News for NDIS Participants: The refreshed continence provider list offers an updated directory of NDIS-registered providers, allowing participants and carers to compare products, access transparent pricing, and benefit from improved customer support. This resource aims to empower informed decisions and facilitate access to necessary continence care across locations. Visit the NDIS website for full details.🔗 https://loom.ly/0MkhmhE #SIRVNews #NDISUpdate #ContinenceCare #NDIS #SIRVSupport #NDISNews

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🚀 In healthcare, change isn't just continual—it's accelerating. Yet some leaders are turning this challenge into a competitive advantage. Our latest guide reveals their blueprint: ▪️Boosting project success by 7X through change done right ▪️Deploying 8 strategies for change excellence ▪️Building a change-ready organisation Ready to lead the charge in healthcare transformation? Dive into our guide! https://adkar.me/489WJ8U 📅 Want to take it a step further? Check out Prosci's healthcare-focused Change Management Certification Program! First sessions start from November 12: https://adkar.me/3BYfD6B #HealthcareLeadership #ChangeDoneRight #OrganisationalExcellence

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General Practitioners (GPs) in Australia play a crucial role in healthcare, offering a wide range of services from preventive care to diagnosis and treatment. They work closely with multi-disciplinary teams to provide person-centred care, ensuring patients receive the best possible support. Accreditation is key to maintaining safe and quality general practice standards in Australia. It is an independent recognition that practices meet the requirements of the governing national industry standards. At the heart of Australian healthcare, GPs continue to evolve their service delivery models to meet the changing needs of patients. For more about the evolution of general practice accreditation, read my World Health Organization action brief: https://lnkd.in/gYiAhyd6 ISQua - ISQua EEA - AGPAL - Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited - AGPAL & QIP - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care #healthprofessionals #generalpractice #qualitycare #healthcare #WHO

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The strengthened Quality Standards will come into effect with the start of the new Aged Care Act. We've put together this guide to assist residential aged care providers in understanding and implementing the strengthened Quality Standards, outlining the key outcome requirements to be achieved and how Acredia's software can support your compliance journey. Download your copy here >>https://cstu.io/a57ad1 #AgedCare #AgedCareAustralia #QualityStandards #Compliance

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As pointed out in Anne Livingstone's perceptive piece, the elderly care business has made no headway towards digital maturity despite numerous changes and the creation of technology roadmaps. Despite the increasing awareness of technology's ability to improve healthcare quality, the industry is clearly facing serious problems, such as underfunding, a lack of direction, and antiquated financing mechanisms. Now that the new Aged Care Act is on hold, the government can reconsider how it will pay for technology in the elderly care sector. This goes beyond playing catch-up; it's about rethinking how technology might radically alter the industry to deliver patient-centered, high-quality care. To guarantee that elderly care services can make the most of digital innovation, we must move beyond timid, hesitant measures.

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The National Healthcare Identifiers Roadmap 2023-2028 is a strategic plan devised in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and Services Australia to drive uptake of the Healthcare Identifiers Service (HI Service). Chief Digital Officer Peter O'Halloran notes that the roadmap outlines a vision for the broad adoption of national healthcare identifiers to enable a connected and interoperable health system where every person, healthcare provider and organisation can be accurately and quickly identified. Read the full media release here: https://lnkd.in/g3XC886s #DigitalHealth

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To my connections who are interested in developing a sustainable approach to addressing social determinants of health (SDH) in partnership with healthcare and community organisations, this grant opportunity might be of interest. #RHRF #RamsayResearch #GrantRound #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth

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“We are never the same again” Frank and fearless sharing from Caitlin Delaney who has lived the challenges with systems of care. Her call to action about why digital health transformation is critical and compelling. I am glad to be having these conversations at the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia’s 26th Annual Congress: innovative quality of care in a digital era June 19-21 2024, Brisbane. These are life altering issues where one size doesn’t fit most. Caitlin proposes a living evidence approach harnessing global data to guide care and treatment. I am struck but not surprised by the mismatch between access to support for people living with advanced disease. 🙌Consumer and self advocacy innovating at the edges because cancer care can’t curate and consolidate fast enough. 📱Supportive care itself supported by patient generated data and symptom scoring. Digital health embedded to support everything required. It’s networked data and information sharing which needs to keep growing. 🏘️Digital Health enables improved outcomes and equity of access and we must ensure that all patients demographics are represented in the design of digital health tools. 🧬Genomics to find more information about the genetics of the tumour to access the best possible immunotherapy. This is precision medicine working in real life. We need a national genomics strategy to remove the barriers. 💻AI across internationally sited data to chase insights to help guide decision making for rare and recurrent ovarian cancer and tap into predictive analytics. #AskEllen AI agent to answer questions compassionately. 🍀Data and information access is integral but can be all down to chance and serendipitous conversations. Clinical trial data. 👩‍🔬Awareness- healthcare providers need to have mechanisms to connect in to the advances and also what is available now. Patients have a key role in bringing new information and tools to their treating team. ❤️🙌 The way forward: Advocate, Collect, Collaborate, Educate, Empower, Establish- despite the odds it’s worthwhile. Thank you Caitlin Delaney. Compassionate connected care saves lives and improves lives. Cancer Nurses Society Of Australia (CNSA)

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by the new Aged Care Quality Standards and struggling to keep up with reporting requirements? Our FREE guide has got you covered 🏠⚖️ Inside, we break down the Standards and help you: 1️⃣ Understand Organisational and Clinical Governance: Simplify the complexities of your obligations. 2️⃣ Decode Assessor Expectations: Gain insights into what assessors are looking for during evaluations. 3️⃣ Navigate Unclear Guidance: Learn strategies for managing obligations when official guidance falls short. Say goodbye to confusion and stress. Download your free copy now so you can focus on what matters most - delivering exceptional care. Download it here 👇 https://hubs.li/Q02w64lj0 #Ideagen #IdeagenCompliSpace #AgedCare #AgedCareReform #AgedCareQualityStandards

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🔄 Time for Healthcare Equipment Providers to Evolve or Face Their "Kodak Moment" The Australian aged care sector is undergoing a massive $5.6 billion transformation, with significant reforms rolling out from July 2025. Yet, many traditional healthcare equipment providers remain focused solely on selling furniture, beds, and consumables. This reminds me of two cautionary tales: Kodak's Downfall: Kodak dominated photography but needed to adapt to digital transformation. Clinging to the traditional film business while competitors innovated, its corporate culture bred complacency and struggled to pivot from its legacy business model. Blockbuster's Demise: Similarly, Blockbuster stuck to its traditional rental model, rejected Netflix's partnership offer and needed to recognise changing consumer preferences. When they attempted to adapt, it was too late. Why Healthcare Equipment Providers Should Pay Attention: - Market data shows residential aged care providers decreasing by 5.2% in FY23 - 70% of providers are concerned about supporting a growing aging population - The future clearly points toward home care, with a 20% growth in Home Care Packages just last year The Path Forward: Instead of panic-driven technology adoption, providers need to: 1. Strategically develop SaaS and technology services 2. Create viable hybrid portfolios combining traditional products with innovative solutions 3. Focus on supporting the growing home care sector The message is clear: evolve thoughtfully or risk becoming another case study in business school textbooks. #HealthcareTechnology #Innovation #AgedCare #DigitalTransformation #BusinessStrategy

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National Healthcare Interoperability Plan - Quarterly Progress Report published The third quarterly progress report on the implementation of the 44 actions identified in the Plan has now been published and is available on the Australian Digital Health Agency website at https://lnkd.in/gQadbvwe . Out of the 44 actions, two are complete, 34 are on track (9 are even ahead of schedule) and 8 actions are yet to commence (in accordance with the schedule). So in summary, the work is tracking well. Well done to everyone across the health sector who is involved in delivering this essential work.

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It feels like 2017… huge multiples for Radiology businesses in the press leading to smaller operators with inflated expectations… From experience working on transactions in the last cycle 🔄 : - multiples for individual/ small group Radiology practices are generally <50% of what is discussed “on the street”. The 17 x as referenced above the paywall in the AFR becomes an unrealistic reference point - any sale of a Radiology business is associated with an ongoing work relationship. The structure or which is as important as the $ - there is a risk that founders, who have worked hard to build a businesses based on clinical excellence and tight teams, get tempted by the biggest cheque (to get close to lofty expectations), then struggle working in an environment to deliver on the “multiple + upside” - transactions can take a toll and generally require more founder exertion than expected. Starting with realistic expectations is a good starting point. At Core Connect Group (CCG) we want to see risk takers and hard workers get what they deserve. Experience shows this isn’t always this biggest X on earnings! https://lnkd.in/gRz8da7U

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The new aged care standards emphasise the importance of quality improvement plans and staff training. Quality and L&D roles are vital in interpreting these standards to make impactful changes for residents, focusing on preventing high-impact events like falls and infections. Kate Renzenbrink RN CHIA - Chief Clinical Informatics Officer at the The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital highlights the 3 phases of incident management: preparation, response, and post-incident continuous improvement. Preventing incidents through rigorous training and quality frameworks, effectively responding to incidents with clear protocols, and learning from feedback and data are key to improving care quality. Encouraging transparency within teams and leveraging feedback ensures better outcomes. The new standards offer an opportunity for L&D and quality teams to shape the future of aged care, focusing on continuous improvement and person-centred care. #AgedCare #QualityImprovement #IncidentManagement #Ausmed

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