National Aged Care Quality Indicator Program
23 July 2019
By Glen Hurley, Chief Operations Officer
What is it?
From 1 July 2019, all Residential Care services are required to participate in the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program). The objective of the QI Program is to ensure that providers have robust data to support continuous quality improvement in the care they provide.
The aims of the Quality Indicator Program are to:
- provide a set of meaningful and measurable indicators to assist residential care services (providers) to monitor and improve important aspects of care;
- enable providers to monitor and identify trends in their performance over time, compare with other services, and implement improvements that will promote quality of care and quality of life;
- provide nationally comparable data across rproviders in Australia over time;
- develop an evidence base to facilitate quality improvement initiatives;
- enhance community understanding of quality in residential care services over time through publication of information about the indicators; and
- provide more information to consumers and residential care recipients to assist with choices and decision making about residential care services over time.
What will it measure?
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Q1 1: Pressure injuries |
Six stages, and each represents a category of data to be collected:
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QI 2: Use of physical restraint |
Two categories:
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QI 3: Unplanned weight loss |
Two categories:
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What are pressure injuries, physical restraint & Unplanned Weight Loss?
A Pressure injury is defined as a localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony area, as a result of pressure, shear and/or friction, or a combination of these factors. These are classified according to how severe the wound is based on clinical assessment.
Devices that are considered physical restraint include; bed rails, chairs with locked tables, seatbelts, safety vests, shackles, manacles.
The Intent to restrain is defined as the intentional restriction of a care recipient’s voluntary movement or behaviour by the use of a device, removing mobility aids, or using physical force for behavioural purposes.
Unplanned weight loss occurs where there is no written strategy and on-going record relating to planned weight loss. This includes consecutive and significant unplanned weight loss. Consecutive weight loss occurs where a person loses weight each month over a three month period. Significant unplanned weight loss occurs where greater than three kilograms of weight is lost over a three month period.
Allity governance, monitoring of clinical indicators
The QI Program is complementary to Allity’s existing clinical governance practices that operate to ensure responsibility and accountability of the quality of care delivered at every Home. Allity collects and monitors key clinical information on a regular and on-going basis to identify and act on key risks as they emerge, and to identify ways to improve the delivery of care.
In addition to the QI program indicators identified above, Allity reports on consumer falls and fractures, medication incidents, physical aggression and consumers who go missing from their Home.
Where to find it?
All residential providers will be required to submit quarterly data through the Commonwealth’s My Aged Care website commencing September 2019.
Where can I find more information about the program?
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/ensuring-quality/quality-indicators/about-the-national-aged-care-quality-indicator-programme
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