Aged Care Clinical Information System (ACCIS) Standards
A list of recommended minimum software requirements for clinical information systems (CIS) including electronic Medication Management (EMM) used in residential aged care homes
The ACCIS Standards have been tested with software developers and other aged care sector stakeholders to ensure they are practical, feasible and cost effective to adopt.
The ACCIS Standards will provide the foundations for future information sharing and interoperability by encouraging critical elements to be the same across all software products used in residential aged care.
How do the ACCIS Standards support the aged care sector?
Digital health standards enable interoperability by supporting a single source of truth that encourages consistency and compatibility across healthcare sectors. The ACCIS Standards will support data and information about people receiving care to be shared between aged care providers and practitioners.
What support is available to implement the ACCIS Standards?
Implementing the new ACCIS Standards involves engagement with stakeholders across the aged care sector. To support a coordinated approach, 6 domains of transformation have been identified. These will be used to further develop, resources and education tools to support the adoption of the ACCIS Standards.
The transformation domains identified include:
Enablers – tools and processes that facilitate adoption of the new ACCIS Standards, including principles, quality statements and digital maturity resources.
Governance – structures and processes that ensure alignment of standards across the sector.
Development – phased solution development to ensure solutions conform with the ACCIS Standards.
Supporting resources – comprehensive development and implementation guides to enable access to relevant information.
Education and training – workshops, learning sessions and educational modules that support providers and software developers with implementation.
Adoption – the rollout and uptake of CIS and EMM systems that meet the ACCIS Standards will enable wider interactions with the health sector, including My Health Record.
Principles for the ACCIS Standards
The ACCIS Standards will bring about more efficient, interconnected and co-ordinated care. To do this, the Standards include the following principles:
- Data is reliable, consistent, computable and contemporary.
- Data can be seamlessly shared between systems, care settings and organisations.
- Data is accessible and transparent and drives improved consumer choice and decision-making.
- Data drives efficient and safe clinical decision-making and positively impacts the end user experience.
- Data is captured once, retains its original meaning, and can be used securely many times, as appropriate.
Quality Statements for ACCIS Standards
CIS and EMM software used in residential aged care homes will demonstrate the following quality statements if they meet the recommended minimum software requirements.
Connectivity
Use software that enables clinical information to be shared with My Health Record.
Enable data to be shared between systems, care settings and organisations to support access to accurate and timely information and support safe clinical handover.
Support usable structured data entry and the use of standards national terminology.
Support interoperability by using national healthcare identifiers for providers, organisations and individuals.
Support collection of information and data to support reporting requirements.
Clinical care and care support
Ensure accurate electronic medication records and use of nationally standardised electronic medication charts and conformant electronic national residential medication chart systems.
Ensure members of residential aged care home care teams can access residents’ health records digitally and other important information to support clinical-decision making.
Incorporate clinical decision-making and decision support that re-enforce good clinical practice that prevents incidents and errors.
Information security/patient data
Adhere to Australian privacy principles to ensure privacy and confidentiality.
Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery plans are supported via back-up mechanisms and other data-protection functions.
Ensure access control and identity management systems align with industry standards.
Ensure industry-standard cyber security controls are used to protect patient data.
Promote system interoperability between healthcare organisations through the adoption of industry standards.
Ensure transmission of data between healthcare organisations is safe and secure.
Residents and family
Support the provision of channels for sharing information with residents and authorised representatives who wish access to information about the health status, change in care needs, care planning and general activities.