Medication management provider BESTMED is working with Macquarie University in Sydney’s north in a new research project set to demonstrate how advanced and user-friendly IT systems can improve the management of medication and support staff and residents.
The two-year project, which has been made possible through a $992,386 grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council Medical Research Future Fund, will showcase why providers need to install intelligent technology to improve medication management safety.
Lead investigator Professor Johanna Westbrook, Director of the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, said the project will demonstrate how IT systems with advanced data processing can improve medication management by:
- supporting the monitoring of medication and guiding decision-making;
- reducing the workload of aged care staff; and
- providing real-time information to residents and their families.
BESTMED’s existing medication management system, used across Australia in more than 500 residential aged care facilities and by pharmacists and general practitioners caring for over 58,000 patients, will be used in the project.
BESTMED CEO Nass Hijazi (pictured) will work with the project leaders to improve mediation management.
“It’s opportunities like this that give us additional insights into how technology can be further used to enhance medication management and assist care providers, consumers and their families,” Nass said.
“With increasing requirements in the sector and staffing pressure, BESTMED is committed to using the right technology to bridge the gap and provide scalable, real-world solutions to improve safety and reduce staff workload.”
Research presented to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has previously shown that 65% of residents on antipsychotics used them for longer than guideline recommendations, Prof Westbrook said.
Project partners include the Aged Care Industry IT Council, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Western Sydney Local Health District, Melbourne Health, Southern Cross Care and Bupa Aged Care.