The Department of Health and Aged Care and the Australian Digital Health Agency have released a set of minimum software requirement standards for clinical information systems and electronic medication management systems used in residential aged care.

The Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards set the foundation for information sharing and interoperability in residential aged care. 

According to Ryan Mavin, ADHA Connected Care branch manager, the standards provide a "clear and consistent direction for software developers and aged care providers on how to design and implement [CIS] that meet the needs and expectations of residents, their families and care teams, and ensure they will connect seamlessly with all national digital health infrastructure."

It is based on the following principles:

• Data is reliable, consistent, computable and contemporary. 

• Data can be seamlessly shared between systems, care settings and organisations. 

• Data is accessible and transparent and drives improved consumer choice and decision-making. 

• Data drives efficient and safe clinical decision-making and positively impacts the end-user experience. 

• Data is captured once, retains its original meaning, and can be used securely many times, as appropriate. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Sam Peascod, assistant secretary of Digital and Service Design at the Department of Health and Aged Care, said the ACCIS Standards are critical to support aged care reforms. 

One of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in 2021 was the mandatory use of My Health Record-interoperable digital care management systems.

The standards are expected to drive the uptake of telehealth, remote monitoring, and data analytics in the aged care sector, according to Dr George Margelis, chief technology advisor of the Aged Care and Community Care Providers Association.

Moreover, ADHA's Mavin said that the ACCIS Standards will help enhance the continuity and coordination of care for older Australians, especially during transitions of care. 

THE LARGER TREND

The ADHA recently put up an offer to vendors of CIS and mobile CIS software in allied health to make more products that connect to My Health Record and electronic prescribing services. 

The offer comes as the ADHA recently introduced an upgrade to Provider Connect Australia (a portal for healthcare providers to update their business information) that allows CIS to connect via SMART on FHIR. 

As part of its National Infrastructure Modernisation programme, the ADHA is currently building a FHIR-based Health Information Gateway, which will be a scalable platform for exchanging and accessing health information, including vaccination records and aged care data. Its build contract was awarded to Deloitte in 2021.