National survey on IT implementation

In a new nationwide survey, KM Group and HISA have unearthed some interesting insights on IT implementation in aged care, including:

• Types of applications implemented
• Factors impacting project success / failure
• Budget, time and quality - expectations vs outcomes
  
• Lessons learned

Care Planning - a hot new space

By far, the most popular area for IT expenditure is Care Planning Tools (including assessment and decision support) - almost 60% of respondents investing here in the past 18 months. Second and third were Document Management (35%) and Bed Management (30%) respectively.

Strong outlook for aged care IT expenditure 

Over 85% of respondents answered 'likely', 'very likely' or 'extremely likely' to undertake further IT implementation in the medium-term. Many expressed confidence in IT and it's ability to generate ROI in aged care, while some indicated pressure from external stakeholders as a key motivation for investment.

Full report in January's IT:informer

See January's edition of the IT:informer for comprehensive results, insights and discussion.

UHI rollout planned for 2010

The Rudd Government has released draft legislation to assign a Unique Healthcare Identifier (UHI) to health care providers and consumers.

Right now, there's no single method of accurately identifying people receiving healthcare, healthcare providers or the organisations managing care, and mismatched patient information is an acknowledged problem - so this is a solid step forward in building a more efficient, more secure health system in Australia.

People won't have to apply for an identifier - it will be allocated automatically to every Australian with a Medicare card or a Department of Veterans' Affairs treatment card. People not covered by these will be allocated identifiers on an individual basis.

UHI rollout is planned for mid-2010, with the draft legislation open for public comment until Thursday, 7 January 2010.

More on this in January's IT:informer.

Three pitfalls to avoid in becoming a SaaS vendor

Avoid capital expenditure. Reduce in-house IT infrastructure. Instantly access the latest updates. Pay as you go...

It's these selling points which are still seeing increasing demand for SaaS, attracting more and more software vendors to the cloud.

But, as many software vendors have found, converting their existing offerings to a SaaS model isn't easy. Internally, it brings dramatic changes to cash flow, product development timelines, support, sales, and last but not least, marketing. And it's not without risk on the demand-side - customers aren't very tolerant when vendors get it wrong.

NewLeaseG2M and Mural Consulting specialise in helping companies transition to the SaaS business model, and have identified the three most common challenges faced:

1. Making the marketing shift - from traditional software sales to SaaS marketing and sales
2. Lack of agility - customers expect greater responsiveness with SaaS
   
3. Balancing investments - matching cash flow against rate of return and investments

More on this from NewLeaseG2M's CEO, Walter Adamson in January's issue of IT:informer. But before then, be sure to tell us what you think, here or via the IT:informer Twitterstream.

More on EMM

Following up on yesterday's post about Electronic Medication Management (EMM), here's a cool little diagram showing how it all works (click to enlarge).

Introducing EMM

In case you don't know already, ASCA and ACAA, through the Aged Care Industry IT Council are working to implement Electronic Medication Management (EMM) in the aged care industry - an attempt to improve medication management, decision support, and ultimately, quality of care.

What's it all about?

Basically, EMM will enable GPs, pharmacists, residential aged care providers and hospitals to share clinical information - giving everyone access to a common electronic medication record.

What people think 

A series of workshops were held around Australia to introduce the idea, and to seek input from key stakeholders. Discussion was vibrant at these events, with shared frustration surrounding the duplication and inefficiencies in current processes.

Also raised was privacy - issues like who owns the centralised data, who's liable etc.

What do you think?

We'd love to know what you think about EMM - so please leave any comments you have here. And don't forget the IT:informer Twitterstream.

Development is well underway...

The design and development of the new IT:informer site is coming on really well. A little sneak peek...

Welcome to the IT:informer!

Hello and welcome to the official blog of the IT:informer - Australia's #1 source of aged care technology news, insight and opinion.

We're excited to be moving our magazine online, and invite you to follow us and join the discussion as we prepare to launch www.itinformer.com.au in early 2010.

Really looking forward to some great discussion over the summer - follow us at:

twitter.com/itinformer
twitter.com/MBarnettKMGroup

Cheers,
From everyone at IT:informer

National IT Implementation Telephone Survey

Help us understand more - please register here

We're extending our latest research to help push Australian Aged Care forward in 2010, and would love to hear your insights.

We know you're busy

Nominate any date and time in February or March that's convenient to take a call - we're flexible and can re-schedule if needed. 

*Required fields

First Name *

Last Name *

Company *

Work Phone Number *

Email Address *

Role

Preferred date (Anytime Feb - March)

Preferred time of day

Promote Your Business

IT:informer brings exciting, measurable new ways to get your message heard by the right people.

Yellow Pages of Aged Care Tech
The 2010 IT:informer Directory is the definitive listing of Aged Care technology vendors. Will feature the National Implementation Survey Report.

The Industry's Quarterly Voice
IT:informer Magazine brings compelling news, insight and opinion to Australia's Aged Care community. Premium, full-page, 1/2 page and 1/4 page placements available.

Rich Media eDirectory
Use video, audio and the power of the web to bring your brand to life in IT:informer's eDirectory. Platinum, gold, silver and bronze placements available.

Contribute for real credibility
Join our team of industry thought leaders to publish your own content in Australia's #1 Aged Care Technology resource. Blogs, eNewsletters, Editorial, Expert Panel - if you have something you'd like to say, we'd love to hear from you.


For more information, contact Scott Woodhouse

03 6226 6254 | 0400 128 430
swoodhouse@in-tellinc.com.au

Blog With Us

Are you an Aged Care professional? IT expert? Blogger?

If you're interested in joining our team and blogging with us, our Community Manager Scott Woodhouse would love to hear from you.

Find Scott at:

Email: swoodhouse@in-tellinc.com.au
Phone: 03 6226 6254 | 0400 128 430
Twitter: www.twitter.com/scottywoodhouse
LinkedIn: http://au.linkedin.com/in/swoodhouse

What is IT:informer?

IT:informer has become the Australian Aged Care industry's quarterly voice, sharing knowledge, innovation and insight on technology and life on the job.

Great stories and profiles on leaders and innovators, what's new on the technology front and how to implement it - the IT:informer is Australia's most established Aged Care technology commentator.

What are people saying?

"The IT:informer is tailored exactly to my needs - smart, entertaining, and generally a good read." - Zain Wright - Springboard

Follow us on the web

Join us for discussion at the following, or contact us with any questions.

Web: www.itinformer.com.au
Twitter: www.twitter.com/itinformer
LinkedIn: Smart Aged Care Tech Group

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What is IT:informer?

Find out what IT:informer's about, and what makes us different here.

Contact us

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Media Contact 

For media-related enquiries, please contact:

Mark Barnett, Founder, Editor

0409 023 140
03 6224 6677

mark@kmgroup.com.au
www.itinformer.com.au

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Feedback, suggestions and general enquiries

If you have any queries or feedback, or just feel like saying hi, we'd love to hear from you!

info@itinformer.com.au
www.twitter.com/itinformer

Our people

IT:informer is driven by smart, passionate people with specialist knowledge and experience in aged care, technology and digital strategy.

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Mark Barnett, Founder, Editor
Mark is an aged care technology specialist. In 2002 he founded the KM Group, which today delivers specialist technology consulting to aged care providers throughout Australia. In 2007 Mark founded the IT:informer.

Follow Mark on the web:
LinkedIn: www.au.linkedin.com/pub/mark-barnett/5/95/5b3
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MBarnettKMGroup 

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Sonja Bernhardt, Blogger
CEO of award-winning software development house, ThoughtWare, Sonja is a serial entrepreneur, Founder of WIT, Co-Founder of AWISE, and one of Australia’s highest profile women in IT.

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Axel Schultze, Blogger
Social media specialist, founder of the Social Media Academy, and CEO and founder of Xeequa, Axel Schultze is all about "Creating a better business experience, one ecosystem at a time".



Follow Axel on the web:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AxelS
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/axelschultze 

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Adam Holcroft, Blogger
Adam is General Manager of QPS Benchmarking - leading providers in Australia and New Zealand, with specialisation in health and aged care management. He is also a web consultant, blogger and entrepreneur.

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Walter Adamson, Blogger
Walter is an expert in social media and emergent business models. CEO of NewleaseG2M, Walter specialises in helping software vendors migrate to cloud computing.


Follow Walter on the web:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/g2m

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Josh Reeve, Blogger
Josh is Marketing Manager at eHealth innovator Medscope - a software startup focused on improving the quality and frequency of medication reviews in Australia. 


Follow Josh on the Web:
LinkedIn: www.au.linkedin.com/in/joshuareeve 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JReevesy 

People

IT:informer is driven by smart, passionate people with specialist knowledge and experience in aged care, technology and digital strategy.

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Mark Barnett, Founder, Editor
Mark is an aged care technology specialist. In 2002 he founded the KM Group, which today delivers specialist technology consulting to aged care providers throughout Australia. In 2007 Mark founded the IT:informer.

Follow Mark on the web:
LinkedIn: www.au.linkedin.com/pub/mark-barnett/5/95/5b3
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MBarnettKMGroup 

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Sonja Bernhardt, Blogger
CEO of award-winning software development house, ThoughtWare, Sonja is a serial entrepreneur, Founder of WIT, Co-Founder of AWISE, and one of Australia’s highest profile women in IT.



Follow Sonja on the web:
LinkedIn: http://au.linkedin.com/pub/sonja-bernhardt/0/140/28

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Adam Holcroft, Blogger
Adam is General Manager of QPS Benchmarking - leading providers in Australia and New Zealand, with specialisation in health and aged care management. He is also a web consultant, blogger and entrepreneur.


Follow Adam on the web:
LinkedIn: http://au.linkedin.com/in/adamholcroft

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Walter Adamson, Blogger
Walter is an expert in social media and emergent business models. CEO of NewleaseG2M, Walter specialises in helping software vendors migrate to cloud computing.


Follow Walter on the web:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/g2m

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Josh Reeve, Blogger
Josh is Marketing Manager at eHealth innovator Medscope - a software startup focused on improving the quality and frequency of medication reviews in Australia. 


Follow Josh on the Web:
LinkedIn: www.au.linkedin.com/in/joshuareeve 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JReevesy