Digital health in aged care
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) aims to ensure that Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs) are well-equipped to manage new technology in the workplace.
This page is a place to review our digital health projects and access information and resources about digital health tools being implemented to improve health service delivery in northern Queensland’s aged care sector.
Telehealth in RACHs
In response to recommendations made in the final report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Primary Health Networks (PHNs) were provided funding to work with participating RACHs to improve their capacity to utilise telehealth to enhance access to primary care services for aged residents.
Following an extensive survey of digital capability among northern Queensland’s RACH service providers and exhaustive consultation on remediation strategies, NQPHN is proud to have rolled out 39 Visionflex telehealth carts to participating RACHs in our area in 2024.
The Visionflex carts feature accessibility options for older persons, including high-definition cameras and audio equipment, large display monitors, and live captioning for the hearing impaired. Advanced clinical devices present on these carts expand the range of services which can be provided by telehealth, and these RACHs can now enhance or implement telehealth workflows allowing their residents to access healthcare services in a more timely and convenient manner.
With our commitment to improving equity of access to healthcare for all older persons, NQPHN is offering bespoke support to homes regardless of size, funding model, or location to implement this equipment meaningfully.
Resources are available below, including NQPHN’s Telehealth Toolkit. This is a key resource produced by NQPHN to guide RACHs in the implementation of telehealth in their clinical care, regardless of if they have been outfitted with a telehealth cart as part of NQPHN’s equipment grant.
Further implementation support is available from the NQPHN Older Persons Health and Palliative Care team’s Senior Digital Capability Officer at ophapc@nqphn.com.au
Digital Champions Network
To drive the organisational change required for meaningful implementation of telehealth and other digital health initiatives, NQPHN is working with nominated Digital Champions at each RACH.
Digital Champions are clinical, management, and operational staff who are motivated by the potential outcomes of using technology to enhance healthcare, and who advocate for ongoing development in their workplace. NQPHN maintains a community to promote problem-solving and the sharing of experiences between peers.
To this end, NQPHN publishes a monthly community newsletter with announcements, updates, tips and tricks, new technologies, success stories, upcoming education opportunities, FAQs, and other news.
NQPHN also hosts a monthly online workshop for the Digital Champions Network, featuring presentations from educational speakers and virtual services that enrich care through telehealth, while providing a platform for peers to share successes and troubleshoot challenges.
Electronic medical records
When digital health services are connected, healthcare providers and authorised residential aged care staff have immediate access to a resident’s key health information. Electronic health records have been shown to:
- reduce time spent accessing health history
- streamline information into one secure location
- improve continuity of care
- save time in an emergency
NQPHN is supporting RACHs in registering for Australia’s national electronic medical record system, My Health Record. Tailored one-on-one support is available for all residential aged care homes wishing to connect to the system.
If you’re interested in connecting your residential aged care home, email mhr.registration.RAC@digitalhealth.gov.au or ophapc@nqphn.com.au.
For registered nurses in RACHs that have not yet completed the My Health Record registration process, Queensland Health’s “The Viewer” may provide interim access to test results, medication history, discharge summaries, and other relevant information about your residents’ encounters with Queensland Health operated services.
Electronic National Residential Medication Charts (eNRMC)
eNRMCs are electronic medication management systems used in RACHs that support the electronic prescribing, supply, and claiming of medicines. These systems benefit residential aged care homes by:
- removing the need for paper-based prescriptions and charts
- decreasing medication safety risks, such as transcription errors
- increasing visibility of medication records for prescribers, suppliers, and staff
- providing point-of-care alerts on allergies and interactions
- enabling real-time electronic collaboration and communication tools
- reducing administrative burden
- reducing the number of regular medications taken by an individual
- facilitating electronic medication audits within a RACH
Government incentives and grants are available to support the uptake of eNRMC systems. If your RACH has not yet transitioned to an eNRMC and you’re interested in doing so, contact NQPHN at ophapc@nqphn.com.au.
Electronic prescribing and active script list
Electronic prescribing is an alternative to paper prescriptions, offering convenient access to medicines and improving safety for patients.
Electronic scripts may be issued to community-based patients and may benefit older persons by:
- providing a convenient alternative to paper prescriptions
- supplementing the delivery of telehealth services
- reducing infectious disease transmission through contactless prescribing
- maintaining privacy through token encryption and data protection
- minimising the risk of lost paper prescriptions
- reducing administrative burden
- ensuring outdated prescriptions are superseded by current records
- providing safeguards against dispensing at multiple pharmacies
The Active Script List (ASL) is a token management solution that consolidates a patient’s active prescriptions. Patients can register for an ASL at an enabled pharmacy. This solution is particularly helpful for those managing multiple medicines, as it removes the need to keep track of SMS or email tokens.
The My Health App allows users to manage their My Health Record and view saved electronic prescription tokens and their Active Script List at any time.