IBM Aged Care Solutions

IBM knows well the pressure our changing demographics are having on the Aged Care sector. In response, IBM has developed a strategy to make it easier for Aged Care Facilities to take up technologies that build more effective and efficient processes into administration and care provision.

IBM believes that industry transformation needs to take place step-by-step. A future business model of transacting in Aged Care can be built at the same time as implementing IT solutions which deliver value now. IBM and our partners have the “Technology building blocks” as well as the integration skills to build an infrastructure to enable this vision.

IBM's track record of working with Healthcare Clients is significant. IBM has assisted organisations to achieve cost controls and build effective systems for residential and community care. In addition, we understand the challenges faced by an aging healthcare workforce, one which is often supplemented by overseas workers. Existing IBM technologies address associated IT challenges as well as language barriers both written and verbal.

IBM and our Business Partner technologies address Aged Care Industry Issues:

• easy interfacing with IT systems for the IT illiterate
• automation of documentation both clinical and administrative to reduce costs and improve care provision
• a complementary solution to Medicare's e-business strategy for back-end processing between the Government and Aged Care facilities
• support to a mobile workforce and coordination of community care
• tracking and monitoring of people, assets and consumables
• security and privacy protection for patients' records
• some assistance in compliance with government requirements: 'Duty of Care' under the 'Duty of Care Act'
• integration and aggregation of data from multiple, disparate systems
• collaboration and communication among healthcare workers and carers

Overall, IBM can help to reduce cost and improve resident patient care to the Aged Care industry, through the successful deployment of technology currently available. We can also provide a platform and a future strategy to build upon.