The Australian Digital Health Agency and the Department of Health and Aged Care have released the first Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards, a set of recommended minimum software requirements for clinical information systems and electronic medication management systems used in residential aged care homes.
The ACCIS Standards are based on five 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.
The ACCIS Standards have been tested with software developers and aged care sector stakeholders to ensure they are practical, feasible and cost effective to implement, according to the Australian Digital Health Agency website.
Chief Technology Advisor ACCPA
Dr George Margelis, Chief Technology Advisor at the Aged Care and Community Care Providers Association, said the ACCIS Standards would support the much-needed adoption of digital technologies in the aged care sector.
"The ACCIS Standards will also support the sector to leverage the benefits of digital health innovations, such as telehealth, remote monitoring and data analytics, which can improve the quality and efficiency of care delivery," he said.
Sam Peascod, Assistant Secretary, Digital and Service Design at the Department of Health and Aged Care, said the standards represent a significant milestone in the digital transformation of the aged care sector.
“These standards are critical to support the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendations, which called for the mandatory use of digital care management systems that are interoperable with My Health Record,” Sam said.
The Australian Digital Health Agency said it will provide guidance and resources to help aged care providers and software developers implement the ACCIS Standards and prepare for future integration with My Health Record and other digital health infrastructure.
The ACCIS Standards are available here.