HEALTHCARE

There are many ways your business can benefit from digital transformation. Resources can be saved by automation of processes and electronic archiving. These savings can be redirected to care and services to your residents.

Digital transformation can be associated with improving care and services. Here are some ideas...

How does a reduction in the total number of service providers or service options improve choice for those seeking support services?

The challenge in maintaining choice and diversity in the sector is seeking ways to improve business efficiency and be viable to avoid the need to reduce services or merge.

Does Australia need a Disability sector and an Aged Care sector? Would care and service recipients be better served by one Support sector?

Whether this man requires his wheelchair due to genetic disorder, injury, mental health, disease or ageing, he and fellow recipients of services in both sectors have the same needs: they need assistance to do things they are unable to do for themselves. Is it reasonable for care and service recipients to be funded at different levels simply because they have been labeled as ‘Aged’ rather than ‘Disabled’? Does it make sense for tax payers to fund two different government bureaucracies with essentially the same purpose?

Put simply, does it matter why you need care or assistance? Is the care or assistance provided different? No, it isn’t.

The most frequent answer I get when I pose this question is an emphatic no. But the answer is a resounding yes.

In fact, I have pulled it off twice in the space of 10 years. I will say that on both occasions, it was a positive transition and well worth it. The benefits included realised reduction in man-hours that were redirected from admin to direct care services. In one case that meant the creation of a second lifestyle coordinator position.

The secret: you must believe it can happen to make it happen.