$200K for innovative IT project

Elderly people presenting with illness at hospital emergency departments may be offered an alternative to hospitalisation, as a result of an innovative IT research project being coordinated by the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).

Under the project, USQ's Collaboration for Ageing and Aged-care Informatics Research (CAAIR) group will work industry partners to implement an IT system that will help health practitioners refer patients to community health care providers.

Currently elderly people presenting to emergency departments are more likely than others to be admitted to hospital due to a lack of time and available information to explore options such as home and community care.

Director of CAAIR, Associate Professor Jeffrey Soar, said the system will help health professionals manage the growing demands of an ageing society.

'The USQ consortium was one of only 12 research groups nationally to receive a highly competitive Information Technology On-Line (ITOL) research grant.

'The USQ consortium received $200K – the highest amount possible under the ITOL scheme - which is provided by the Department of Communities, IT and the Arts.

'We are now looking forward to working with our industry partners, Nexus eCare, Advanced Community Care Association (ACCA) and Alcidion to develop and implement the IT system.'

Nexus eCare CEO, Frank Whittaker said the project will have real benefits for patients and their families.

'Staff in busy emergency departments and wards will be able to identify patients suitable for home care, then link to appropriate community providers and provide full information for continuity of care in settings that patients prefer.

'We selected USQ's CAAIR as our collaboration partner due to its national leadership in IT research for aged care,' Mr Whittaker said.

Associate Professor Soar said the innovative IT system will be monitored by experienced health professionals.

'A key element of the system will be a nurse-staffed 24 hour a day Contact Centre that will monitor and follow up any issues.

'There is a lot of evidence to suggest that patients prefer to be in their own homes and that outcomes for home care are at least as good as institutional care and even better for some conditions.'

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092 or +61 412 097 326