Nicole Sykes

xpenses in the aged care sector are a critical focus for organizations aiming to balance cost savings with high-quality care. Smaller and regional aged Aged care homes encounter unique challenges in cost management and government funding. Leveraging procurement specialists like S.T.A.R Procurement is key to swiftly identifying savings on various expenditure items. S.T.A.R Procurement offers tailored solutions, delivering tangible savings of up to 30% off baseline costs for organizations such as Healthia Limited, Tristar Medical, and Capitol Health. By cascading these savings to associated entities, procurement not only cuts costs but also aids in achieving strategic goals, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring compliance. Over the last 6 months, S.T.A.R Procurement has achieved significant savings in categories like stationery (25%), printing (30%), utilities (25%), and medical consumables (15%). Implementing procurement improvements is a straightforward process yielding substantial benefits without extensive consulting hours. External procurement support can provide a cost-effective boost to strategic objectives compared to internal resources.

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It was a very interesting Continuity of Care Collaboration webinar "Managing Healthcare Amid Rising Living Costs" hosted by John Emmerson This thought-provoking session with panelists Dr Nick Coatsworth representing the Australian Patients Association, Dr Sian Goodson representing The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Susan Davidson representing Australian Diabetes Educators Association Cost of living is adding increased stress and pressure right across the healthcare system. People are delaying attending GPs due to out-of-pocket costs. Diagnosing and managing #diabetes relies on hba1c tests, but many people are unable to access and afford tests either from their GP or #diabeticeducator. There are many problems and questions, but there are solutions. If we can leverage all health care professionals, enabling scope of practice, access and healthcare outcomes can be improved. A myriad of well-intentioned health screening tests that are absolutely critical for diagnosing serious health concerns, but if you can't access a GP, due to costs or location then how do you benefit from these funded services, currently only available from a GP? Our systems for managing patient data need to be interoperable, across the entire system so healthcare professionals can work in collaboration -it doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be under the one roof. It means that relevant patient data, information and referrals can be transferred safely and easily between healthcare practitioners including GPs and allied healthcare professionals. #scopeofpractice #healthcosts #costofliving #communitypharmacy #preventativehealthcare If you are interested in this webinar, here is the recording:  https://lnkd.in/ggUrUd23 

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The StewartBrown study Aged Care at the Crossroads highlights the Australian aged care sector's financial challenges and the need for funding reforms to ensure sustainability and quality. Technology can help solve workforce issues by providing live evaluation data and preventing catastrophic accidents. Aged Care EchoCare Technology Case Study EchoCare Technologies' non-wearable ECHO (Elderly Care Home Observer) technology uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to track seniors' everyday activities and identify emergencies. This radar-based device tracks motions and physiological indications in residential spaces without cameras, ensuring privacy. Open API architecture and integration options EchoCare's open API architecture integrates with many clinical care systems. This versatility allows EchoCare data to be exchanged across platforms, improving care delivery: EHRs: EchoCare data can be incorporated into residents' EHRs to provide a complete health picture and any changes. This improves coordination and decision-making by giving all care providers the latest information. Alerts and Notifications: In real-time, the system warns caregivers of emergencies and crucial resident status changes. Staff transmit alerts to mobile devices for quick response and intervention. Increasing Resident Quality Many quality improvements result from EchoCare technology integration with clinical care systems: Early Detection and Intervention: EchoCare monitors residents' activities and physiological signs to detect health issues early and prevent serious complications. The system's ability to identify falls and other crises guarantees residents receive prompt care, reducing injury risk and improving safety. EchoCare's AI engine learns the resident's routine and recognises deviations, allowing carers to provide more personalised care. Changes in restroom use or gait may indicate medical issues. Effective Staff Decision-Making EchoCare gives workers live data to help make decisions: Carers can see trends and health issues in detailed reports on residents' daily activity, sleep, and mobility. This data-driven strategy enhances care. Automating typical monitoring chores frees EchoCare professionals to focus on more essential treatment areas. For instance, the system warns workers of unexpected activity, reducing night inspections. Integration with clinical care systems streamlines operations, freeing carers to focus on patient care. This is only one example of how technology can address workforce issues. If you are interested in discussing this topic further or participating in a proof-of-concept (POC) project where we explore innovative ways to resolve workforce issues without waiting for government decisions, please get in touch with me directly. Let's work together to create sustainable solutions for the aged care sector.

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The Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) Research Advisory Group, are undertaking a study aimed at developing resources to support aged care in 'assessing their readiness to implement change and support the ongoing sustainability of the innovation'. Whilst aged care organisations are responsible for the holistic care of the people in their care, they are also required to support and train their staff, navigate funding mechanisms and regulatory frameworks, and be responsive and proactive in addressing extensive and ongoing aged care reforms. The article below is the first in a series of publications informing readers about the research that is being undertaken, its findings and the resources developed as an outcome. The first publication, a scoping review, identified five key categories of factors influencing implementation in aged care. This is subject of great interest to me, and a most engaging article. Alex Mignone Carol Davy Amy Marshall Alice Windle Michelle Hogan Amy Montgomery Laura Bryce Kaitlyn Thorne Natalie Joseph Claire Johnson Jacqui Watt Charles Broadfoot Bron McCrae Helen Vaz Emma Kerr Clair Ramsden MAICD Sharon Fletcher JBI EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION JBI ARIIA #agedcareworkforce #agedcareorganisations #residentialagedcare #innovation #implementationscience Free Access to the manuscript below, for a limited time ... https://lnkd.in/dCDbh42z

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"...just more evidence showing health reform is long overdue." There's some stark messaging in the latest Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association (AHHA) statement on the issues facing #healthcare and #generalpractice. They underline the reasons for the current focus on health reform including: 🛎 "We rely on a health system that assumes you can see your GP when you need to, and certainly when you are sick." 🛎 "Australia has more doctors per head of population than the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and many other nations....[but]...the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Health Workforce report have estimated a current shortfall of GPs of over 2,400 FTE in 2024, increasing to around 3,900 FTE in 2028." 🛎 "Our system is under ever-increasing strain, unable to align service structures with demand or capacity to deliver universal access." This isn't about minimising the important role of #GPs and #generalpractice #teams. It's about recognising the structural challenges and the implications of this if our #healthsystem can't adapt to meet current demand and the forecast growth. #health #healthcare #primaryhealthcare Kylie Woolcock Karen Booth Tracey Johnson Ged Kearney Anne Ruston Mark Butler

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Budget disability highlights: - a new specialised disability employment program commencing on 1 July 2025 - a digital platform - procurement of specialist providers Pulling information together and making it more user-friendly is always a good idea. Let’s hope this procurement process is fair and meets people’s needs. Inclusive Supports could fill a gap in service provision for neurodivergent school leavers with very limited options due to high anxiety, their use of augmented communication tools, and sensory needs. #disability #NDIS #serviceProvider #charity #asd #autism Amanda Rishworth Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability Aron Mercer Will Wheeler Brendon Grail Paula Brough Paula Mowbray

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How can you truly innovate and actually bring person centred care when it would bring you non compliances. People want to live and have care when they need it! A lifestyle of living where wellness and lifestyle is at the forefront of a persons daily needs to provide them a fulfilling meaningful life in residential aged care is a possibility! More CEO’s are realising this, staffing practices need to be changed to supply residents with not just what they do but what can be done and enjoyed…..

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Register now for the ASID NZ webinar: An accessible approach to advance care planning Thursday, 30 May 2024 3pm – 4:15pm (NZST) 1pm – 2.15pm (AEST) Webinar via Zoom REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/gnX-PnQn Speaker: Dr Nic McKenzie, Disability sector consultant and researcher This event is a webinar. It might be of interest to people with intellectual disability, families and whānau, disability service professionals, and health professionals. Dr Nic McKenzie is going to talk about a new way of doing Advance Care planning. Advance Care planning means making decisions about what we want to happen when we are seriously unwell or dying. The new way of doing Advance Care planning was co-designed with people with intellectual disabilities and their support networks in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nic will share the materials and tools that were developed. This includes an easy-read plan, training course, and a guidebook for supporters. Nic will also talk about the main ideas (an ‘emergent framework’) behind the new approach. This may help people in other countries think about how to make Advance Care planning more accessible where they live.

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JUST RELEASED 2024 -2029 Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy This Action Plan (the Plan) underpins the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy (the Strategy), outlining how the Department of Health and Aged Care and its partners will deliver the Strategy. Actions are presented under each priority and outcome, which will collectively achieve the Strategy’s vision. Data collection, security, analysis and management along with change management / education and co-design will help reduce risk for Aged and Home care providers as the sector faces shortages of staff, quality and well-being of residents and increased regulatory expectations. Alignment with Aged Care providers and Technology and Data vendors is crucial and Talius is doing this with projects with ARIIA grants and aged care providers Whiddon and CSIRO. Talius believes the best care is informed care, Talius is an AI- powered, sensor enabled platform that supports aged care providers to operate safer, smarter and more profitably .... Introducing @Talius Smart Care Platform care. For more information, please visit our website www.talius.com.au or for a demonstration and more information contact [email protected] #datacollection #datasecurity #reducerisks #Changemanagement #codesign ARIIA Whiddon CSIRO Talius Eldercare Lutheran Homes Group ACH Group AnglicareSA Tanunda Lutheran Home Inc. ECH Inc. Anchor Excellence Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Aged & Community Care Providers Association Regis Aged Care Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission https://lnkd.in/gszSs9YM

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The enhancement of population health and the promotion of equity in healthcare are fundamentally contingent upon the efficacy of primary healthcare. In New Zealand, primary care facilitates approximately 23 million patient interactions annually, while emergency departments account for around 1 million. A hypothetical 6% reduction in primary care capacity over a year would result in a doubling of the workload in EDs. It is not uncommon for practices to cease accepting new patients, colloquially termed as "closing the books." Addressing the challenge of closed books is therefore urgent, as they represent a significant barrier to enhancing access to care and mitigating health inequities, which are pivotal objectives of New Zealand’s Primary Health Care Strategy. The inaccessibility of PHC also exerts additional pressure on hospital services, particularly emergency departments, as individuals resort to EDs when they cannot access primary care. Māori populations, in particular, experience inferior access to high-quality healthcare, which contravenes the equity commitments enshrined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. A recent study by Victoria University researchers, titled “Closed books”: restrictions to primary healthcare access in NZ, highlights that approximately 79% of the 227 surveyed general practices reported closed or limited enrolments between 2019 and 2022. The situation deteriorated over time, with the proportion of practices with completely closed books in 2022 (27%) being nearly four times higher than in 2019 (7%), and the proportion of practices with fully open books in 2022 (28%) being roughly half of that in 2019 (57%). Limited enrolments increased from 36% in 2019 to 45% in 2022. Capitation funding formulas, which consider population characteristics, serve as a method for estimating the necessary funding to meet varying levels of need. Since 2002, Aotearoa New Zealand has employed a capitation formula to fund all general practices, aiming to cater to the needs of their enrolled populations. However, practices serving a higher number of individuals with complex health needs may not receive accurate funding if the formula’s variables do not adequately represent these needs. For funding formulas to be equitable and ensure that those with higher needs receive the necessary services, they must appropriately account for differences in patient needs. This is crucial for the financial sustainability of practices serving high-needs populations. What is the optimal path forward? Should we prioritise the training of more onshore GPs? Should we allocate resources to distribute the workload across a multidisciplinary team comprising nurse practitioners, physician associates, and prescribing pharmacists? Should we leverage technology to bridge the existing gaps? Or should we pursue a combination of all these strategies? Regardless of the chosen approach: time is of the essence. Aceso Health Samantha Ford Digital Health Association (DHA)

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In the rapidly evolving field of healthcare, the integration of technology in data collection processes is becoming indispensable. The ability to collect data continuously, 24/7/365, offers an unprecedented opportunity to understand patient conditions in real time, identify trends, and respond proactively. This continuous monitoring, especially when coupled with unbiased, automated data analysis, can significantly enhance patient care and outcomes. It also represents a fertile ground for research into new healthcare solutions and interventions. Traditionally, data collection in healthcare settings has been episodic, largely relying on patient visits and manual data entry by healthcare providers. This approach not only limits the amount of data collected but also introduces potential biases and errors—patients may not accurately recall or report their symptoms, and clinicians might interpret information subjectively. Modern sensor technologies are changing this landscape. Devices that monitor vital signs, movement, and even biochemical markers can now collect vast amounts of data around the clock. This data, when processed with advanced analytics, can reveal insights into patient health trends, disease progression, and the effectiveness of treatments, often long before traditional methods would detect a change. Benefits of Technology-Driven Data Collection 1. Early Detection and Intervention: Continuous data collection allows for the early detection of adverse events or deterioration in a patient’s condition. For instance, subtle changes in heart rate variability or activity patterns could indicate the need for preemptive medical intervention, potentially preventing hospitalisations. 2. Reduction in Bias: Automated data collection reduces human error and bias. It ensures that data is collected in a consistent, unbiased manner, which is crucial for the accurate assessment of treatment outcomes and for research purposes. We are on the brink of a revolution in healthcare monitoring and data analysis. Our team has developed a cutting-edge monitoring sensor designed for seamless integration into diverse healthcare environments. This sensor not only collects comprehensive data on various health parameters but also uses advanced algorithms to analyze this data for trends and alert the clinical team about significant changes. We invite researchers and healthcare innovators to collaborate with us in testing and refining this technology. Your expertise can help expand its capabilities, explore new use cases, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. The future of healthcare lies in leveraging technology for better data collection and analysis. By embracing unbiased, continuous data collection systems, we can transform patient care, making it more proactive, personalized, and effective. Join us in this exciting journey to redefine healthcare through technology.

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It's quite revealing to see the data presented in the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's recent Sector Performance Report. While it's encouraging that 85% of aged care homes audited were compliant with all eight Standards, the persistent issues highlighted, especially in clinical care and organisational governance, are concerning. The report indicates that clinical care continues to be a major area of complaint and non-compliance. Despite a general improvement in compliance with Quality Standard 3, significant challenges remain in delivering safe and effective care and managing high-impact or high-frequency risks. These are crucial areas affecting the daily lives of aged care recipients and their families, underlining the need for stringent, effective standards and enforcement. Moreover, the low compliance rate in Standard 8, which focuses on organisational governance, suggests systemic issues that might not be swiftly resolved by simply introducing new standards. What we need is not another delay in implementing these standards but a more rigorous, actionable approach that holds facilities accountable and ensures that improvements are not only promised but effectively executed. The increase in audit activity is a step in the right direction, yet, as the report shows, there's a crucial need for continuous and effective monitoring to truly elevate the standard of care. The sector's ability to adapt to and address these issues will be paramount in ensuring the safety and well-being of those under its care. We must advocate for and support changes that bring about real, impactful improvements in the quality of aged care services.

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Is this the next step for Wesfarmers Health in their primary care foray? The machines being offered by the sounds of the article are SiSU Health Group (who are owned by Wesfarmers health) automatic machines for a variety of observations including BP. I’d love to think they are purely there as a public health measure (given a research body is involved) but doubt this is the case….. There’s a logical workflow here where patients with abnormal results are prompted to have a consult with a clinician from InstantScripts as an immediate next step. It’s actually a really clever patient acquisition approach and something we will see more of over the next couple of years. The competitive pressures on independent small and medium medical centre is going to continue to really increase over the next couple of years - I’m personally constantly looking at my service offering in light of how fast the market is changing. I don’t have a vertically integrated offering to acquire and profit off all parts of the patient journey so it will be interesting to see how many versions of me disappear when the milk wars land at our doorstep. Edit to add: absolutely love any initiatives that improve screening in the community! I’m just always suspicious of motives beyond “the public good”.

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This years Health & Aged Care Procurement Conference is jam-packed with great content. Here is the line up of topics from all our speakers. Responsible Procurement: Emerging stronger by embracing challenging times and a broader supply side agenda. A financial analysis of the state of the aged care sector today … and debrief on the federal govt Aged Care Task Force 2024. From CE Marking to ‘European Medical Device Regulation’ (EMDR) – The Product Revolution reducing manufacturers and effecting your procurement in ANZ. CASE STUDY: Responsible Procurement at Health Share Victoria. The Growing Role of AI and Big Data in Healthcare. Q&A Panel : What are the few biggest challenges facing procurement in this sector day-to-day? Are there core answers we can all deploy? Being ahead of the game : new drugs, changing prevalence of disease, and personalisation will change the procurement landscape. CASE STUDY: How the largest Aged Care provider in Australia works to deliver Responsible Procurement. CASE STUDY: How CSL aim to build supply chain resilience in the most responsible way. CATEGORY CASE STUDY – Responsible Procurement in action Healthshare NSW. How Responsible Procurement can support the challenges in the Aged Care sector. Can the Aged Care sector afford a socially responsible procurement program during a time of severe economic challenge? Uber for Health CASE STUDY. Embracing instant service for office consumables, responsibly COS office supplies CASE STUDY. An Aged Care Procurement Success Story. Bed Automation: Revolutionizing Pressure Injury Prevention and Staff Safety & Workload in Aged Care. Food & Catering: Look beyond the headline price when investing in food service equipment. The power of modern Waste Management – sustainable, compliant and cost-effective category management. Managing the supply side challenge at the hospital level. The shift to Value-Based Procurement. CASE STUDY: Health Procurement Challenges in Practice. Not registered yet? Complimentary tickets to the first 100 BUYERS to register - get in quick ✅ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ https://lnkd.in/g8RHDqBX

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Health Services Daily The long-awaited scope of practice review has arrived, outlining an “ambitious program” of reforms. While the federal health minister, Mark Butler, seems onside, does he have the gumption to face “turf wars” and “political fights” to enact implementation? Last August saw the inauguration of the Unleashing the potential of our health workforce – scope of practice review. Today, lead reviewer Professor Mark Cormack and his team released the review’s final report, including 18 recommendations. #healthreform #scopeofpractice

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I asked a senior clinician at SWSLHD what is going on to drive the increase in demand for dialysis and this was his response. ‘Dialysis is very complex with a lot of risk and potential complications. It's about redistributing resources to where they are needed and moving people off dialysis by giving them a renal transplant. But the problem starts in primary care. You need to better manage their diabetes and their hypertension so they don't develop kidney failure. That's the real reason western Sydney is overwhelmed’ So this is the downstream effect of a lack of investment in Primary Care resulting in poorly managed diabetes and an earlier death because of where they live. Again disproportionately impacting our most socially disadvantaged communities. We need to stop looking at who we can pass the problem onto from Federal to State to Private. We need to understand what is causing this alarming trend and address it as it will only get worse for the people of South Western Sydney. We need prevention strategies and continuity of care ,not urgent care to manage chronic disease. Australia we have to do better than this! Health Services Daily Chris Minns Mark Butler #healthequity #healtheconomics #chronicdiseasemanagement #prevention

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The Department of Health and Aged Care just published the Home Care Package - Published Pricing Schedule - 30 June 2024 which shows the national median prices for common home care services including care management and package management fees. Home care providers, well worth a look to ensure you are operating in a competitive space. Link: https://lnkd.in/ekkjDrNM Please note that it comes in an excel version so you can have a play with how you want to sort the data, even better. #homecarepricing #pricingdata #homecarepricingcomparisons #

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