Australia to launch virtual nursing for aged care
The Ministry of Health and Elderly Care is launching a telehealth service for nursing home residents as part of reform measures in the elderly care sector.
The company recently issued a tender for a supplier or group of suppliers of a telecare solution to provide virtual nursing services to 30 undisclosed care homes.
“The successful provider(s) will be responsible for delivering person-centered care through telehealth (videoconferencing) consultations,” the request states.
They are expected to provide basic and ongoing training to staff in the use of the virtual nursing platform.
The ministry also wants them to conduct an initial assessment of the available and accessible technology for each care home and then implement the required technology or enhance the existing technology to support the delivery of virtual nursing services.
Clinical and technical governance mechanisms, including frameworks, policies or processes, are also expected to be developed and integrated.
Finally, telehealth providers are tasked with providing the information needs of residents and their families with “easily understandable resources.” This includes information about the “rights of the client, their family, and/or caregivers regarding the delivery of care via virtual nursing.”
THE BIGGER TREND
Virtual nursing is part of initiatives to maximize time for direct care under the 10-year action plan Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy. The project, the department said, “will support the development and testing of a framework for delivering safe and high-quality virtual nursing support in aged care.” The department also wants to test AI technologies and conduct trials of virtual reality technology.
Meanwhile, a consortium of 15 Primary Health Networks in Australia recently offered a free telehealth training package for residential aged care staff. The training teaches them how to deliver safe and effective telehealth services that can help close the shortage of aged care services in rural communities. It offers 62 six-minute modules, each accredited for educational hours for general practitioners and nurses. It covers topics from choosing the right location and device to best practices for delivering end-of-life care and technology troubleshooting.