Residential aged care

When digital health services are connected, healthcare providers and authorised residential aged care staff have immediate access to a resident’s key health information.

This connected healthcare will support aged care facilities and means their residents can receive better continuity of care.

Watch this video to find out more about the benefits of digital health in residential aged care.

Digital health services available to aged care facilities and their residents

My Health Record

My Health Record is a secure online summary of key patient health information. In an aged care setting, authorised healthcare teams can access a resident’s record to view and add information. The benefits include immediate access to a resident’s key health information between facilities, such as:

Shared health summary
Discharge summaries
Prescription and dispense records
Transfer of care
Vaccination and immunisation information
Pathology and radiology results
Advance care planning document/s
Validation and verification of clinical information
Avoid duplication of tests and diagnostic imaging
Improve continuity of care.

Electronic prescriptions and Active Script List

Electronic prescriptions are digital versions of paper prescriptions and can be managed by using an Active Script List.

Electronic National Residential Medication Chart (eNRMC)

eNRMC supports the delivery of appropriate care for people within residential aged care facilities by ordering medicine and providing a record of administration that can be documented and used to help communicate information consistently between health professionals and aged care staff about the intended use of medicines for an aged care resident.

Pharmacist Shared Medicines List

A list of medicines a patient may be taking, created by a pharmacist or hospital pharmacy.

Telehealth

Telehealth is having a consultation with a healthcare provider by phone or video call.

Many GPs, specialists and other healthcare providers now offer a telehealth consultation when a physical examination isn’t necessary. It’s not intended to replace essential visits to the doctor, but rather be a convenient solution when you can’t see a doctor face to face.

Benefits of connected care

Reduce time spent accessing health history
Streamline information into one secure location
Improve continuity of care
Save time in an emergency.

Connecting facilities

Tailored one-on-one support is available for all residential aged care facilities wishing to connect to the My Health Record system.

If you’re interested in connecting your residential aged care facility, email [email protected].

The Agency provides online resources for residential aged care facilities, including e-learning modules, webinars and training simulators.

Download the Better connected care through My Health Record flyer (PDF, 405.18 KB).

Software product conformance

See which software products are conformant with My Health Record.

If your facility or organisation uses these software products, please contact them for information about when the upgraded changes will be available to you.

Initiatives are underway to partner directly with software developers to ensure their software products for the aged care sector are conformant with My Health Record. This is so that more products that support clinical information and medication management can be connected.

Digital health literacy

Better connected healthcare for Australians can be achieved through uptake and adoption of technology. Support is available by:

building digital health capability across the health and aged care workforce, delivered through the National Digital Health Capability Action Plan
evolving health and care to meet the needs of modern Australia under the National Digital Health Strategy
improving access to clinical advice for aged care residents through telehealth initiatives
supporting the aged care workforce through resources and training. Please navigate to ‘aged care’ under the heading ‘your areas of practice’.

Resources and support material

Download the Toolkit (PDF)

My Health Record Readiness Toolkit (ACCPA)

Download the Toolkit (PDF)

Watch pre-recorded webinar now

My Health Record in aged care pre-recorded webinar

Watch pre-recorded webinar now

My Health Record - supporting safety, quality and better care in Residential Aged Care facilities

View the Guidelines

My Health Record Guidelines for Residential Aged Care

View the Guidelines