How Technology will Transform the Aged Care Landscape

To maintain a competitive edge, aged care organisations need to embrace technology that improves business processes and doesn’t distract the focus from client care. With Microsoft SharePoint, it is possible to manage workflows, facilitate collaboration to increase employee engagement and automate business processes. Want to know more about incorporating technology into your systems? Exigo Tech’s Microsoft SharePoint Consultants in Sydney offer solutions that can help you improve processes.

 Shift in aged care landscape to meet today’s and future demands

As per the Productivity Commission’s final report, the number of people getting aged care services is likely to rise by nearly 250% over the coming 40 years with almost 3.5 million, which is 10.3% of Australia’s population needing aged care services’ support by 2049-50.

The aged care sector has shifted and the change is here to stay. New service models and government reforms have already challenged the status quo. The shift towards consumer-centric care, combined with the proliferation of digital technology and an ageing population, form the tri-factors that are driving care providers to reconsider the way they operate.

With the increase in demand, the aged community’s expectations in terms of quality, type and flexibility of care provided are rising. Rise in expectations means rapid increase in costs to provide the services that include service/utility costs and staffing costs. The only thing that can help you to do the balancing act is adapting technology that can improve efficiency standards while minimising risks.

Digitise customer experience

Clients are now using technology and are more empowered and informed to control their choices when it is about the services and care they require. As a care provider, you must understand their expectations and needs. You should leverage advanced technology to function efficiently while improving customer experience.

Benefits of technology for aged care organisations

Technology can deliver value to an aged care organisation and its staff. Here’s how:

1. Improve the aged care experience for staff

Aged care professionals are committed to tirelessly provide high quality care and support to the elderly. However, administration within the sector has become complex over the years. The staff finds documentation and paperwork associated with care plans, assessments, progress notes and funding challenging and time-consuming.

Technology enables the aged care professionals to focus more on what they do best – providing care to the elderly. Technology simplifies and automates processes so that the staff spends less time in paperwork and other administrative tasks, and more time on delivering compassionate and considerate care.

2. Investment in technology is an investment in staff

Many aged care service providers avoid adopting new technology for the fear of it being too complicated to meet the practical needs of nursing and care staff.

However, with proper training that focuses on professional development with dedicated change management approach, the staff’s level of confidence towards working with technology quickly increases. Therefore, an investment in technology is an investment in the staff. Appropriate training encourages the staff to accept and utilise modern, easy to use technology and this eventually helps in staff retention.

3. Improve staff engagement and boost company morale

For many aged care organisations, to introduce a new technology is a process that requires inputs from internal stakeholders. The implementation process gives the staff an opportunity to work together, debate, learn and overcome challenges. This is an excellent employee engagement activity that will reduce frustration, improve morale, and help develop a culture where the nursing and care staff knows that their opinions matter.

4. Enhance communication between staff, clients and their families

Technology provides an unprecedented scope for the aged care professionals to conduct online interactions with the families of elderly clients and residents. These interactions conveniently bridge the communication gap and provide reassurance to the families in the level of care and support that is being delivered to their loved ones. While there may not be many indulging in these online interactions, it won’t take long for technology based communication to soar.

5. Encourage a robust system across the organisation

An efficient, technology based system improves efficiency and productivity within your organisation. It also gives a fresh perspective to how tasks and responsibilities are accomplished. Technology enables the staff to realise its benefits and see the potential for improvements across their areas of influence and responsibility.

These are the five benefits that will ensure proper care by empowering the elderly as well as the workforce with the cutting-edge technology and its applications.

If you want to know more about how technology can offer countless benefits in terms of efficiency, productivity and quality of care, get in touch with the best Microsoft SharePoint Consultants in Sydney. Get the best out of SharePoint collaboration with the help of SharePoint Consultants at Exigo Tech. Call them today at +61 29098 6006 or visit www.Exigotech.com.au.