Improved clinical care standards in aged care a must says AMA

AMA submission to Department of Health and Aged Care’s Aged Care Quality Standards Review focused on clinical care.

The AMA has provided a submission to the Department of Health and Ageing’s review of the Aged Care Quality Standards. Although the consultation was broad and included all aged care standards, the AMA submission focused solely on the role of clinical care in aged care. 

The AMA’s submission said the revised clinical care standard must make clear how:

• clinical governance and accountability is achieved, including through establishment of relevant advisory committees, that must include medical input
• the standard integrates advance care planning and palliative care
• consumers understand what clinical care entails is improved
• clear lines of responsibility for clinical care are established and evaluated.

The AMA submission insisted that clinical care inside an aged care home cannot be separated from the overall healthcare for an older person. Therefore, policies and procedures must be in place that support effective communication with visiting medical practitioners (including GPs and other medical specialists such as geriatricians and psychiatrists) and allied health professionals, including standing orders for individual consumers, and protocols for contact after hours and in emergency situations. The AMA called for these to be enshrined in the standards.

The AMA submission can be viewed here: https://www.ama.com.au/articles/ama-submission-aged-care-quality-standards-review