IT for Aged Care Providers: A Step by Step Guide
Useful Resources
Aged Care Association of Australia
The Aged Care Association Australia is a professional, national industry association for providers of quality residential and community aged care services: www.agedcareassociation.com.au.Aged Care Directories
Within the Aged Care Australia departmental web site there is a section where individuals are able to search for information on aged care facilities: www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/. There are also other commercial sites offering directories of aged care services.Appropriate Use
Establish (and communicate to all) a formal policy that outlines what your organisation considers to be inappropriate use. A model ‘Appropriate Use Policy’ can be accessed online at www.efa.org.au/Publish/aup.html.Clinical IT in Aged Care
The Clinical IT in Aged Care project is examining ways to improve the quality of aged care delivery through the use of IT. Information about the project: www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-clinitfly.htm.Department of Health and Ageing
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing provides a great deal of online information for those in the aged care sector. Go to: http://www.health.gov.au/agedcareeconnect then click on the Health Professionals tab, then select Aged Care from the menu.Top of page
E-business
Business transactions supported by the transfer of information electronically. One example is the Online Claiming system provided by Medicare Australia that allows providers to lodge aged care forms electronically. The e-business guide web site provides information and resources about e-business for small businesses in Australia. The site is an initiative of the Australian Government. Try: www.e-businessguide.gov.au.ICT Directory
Aged Care Direct (ICT Directory) is an Australian not-for-profit established to provide a source of technology information and education for aged and community care providers and suppliers: www.agedcaredirect.com.au/.Medicare Australia
Medicare Australia assumed responsibility for DOHA’s Aged Care Payments in 2005. Medicare Australia also provides the department’s aged care e-business gateway, the Online Claiming system. For useful links as well as information about online claiming try: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/aged-care/index.jsp.Online Safety
Free Internet filters (and information and advice about online safety) are available from NetAlert at the Australian Government’s Internet safety initiative: www.netalert.gov.au.Security
The Australian government has produced a guide called Trusting the Internet: a small business guide to e-security. You can find a copy at: http://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_and_technology/publications_and_reports/2002/july/trusting_the_internet_-_a_small_business_guide_to_e-securityTraining
A number of organisations provide IT Training under the Adult and Community Education banner. The sites listed below allow searches for particular courses or for particular providers.- EdNA Adult and Community Education Portal - www.edna.edu.au/edna/go/ace;
- Australian Government Education Portal - www.education.gov.au/goved/go/pid/19.