WA aged-care provider Hall and Prior to launch ‘world-first’ administration platform

Tue, 19 October 2021 3:13PM

WA-based Hall and Prior will be the first Australian aged care provider to roll-out a new “world-first” platform designed to reduce human error in the sector.

The software developed by Australian company Humanetix automates administration work to free-up time for carers by up to 96 minutes per employee, every shift.

Hall and Prior chief executive Graeme Prior said the “innovative technology” would reduce stress on staff and improve care for residents.

“This will lead to a better quality of care being delivered,” he said.

The software will be deployed at four Hall and Prior sites next financial year — two in WA and the rest in NSW — for a six to 12-month trial.

Mr Prior said the aged care provider was keen to implement the software, but for now boosting the vaccination rate in the community remained the biggest priority.

All Hall and Prior staff have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the chief executive expected by November the company would have 100 per cent of employees double dosed.

WA aged care providers have been placed under increasing pressure throughout the pandemic as staff shortages ballooned with closed borders and mandatory vaccinations.

Compliance with new COVID-19 protocols and heightened risk management also put additional strain on employees.

The Australian-made Humanetix software will be distributed globally through a partnership with international healthcare investment firm BioScience Managers.

Under the agreement, the companies planned to expand across Australia and would target the global market through the NHS in the UK and regional hospital in the US.

Humanetix and BSM also plan to develop new platforms specific to at-home carers and hospitals.

“Our new partnership … will allow us to serve more aged care providers and innovate to other parts of the health sector,” Mr Darling said.

Inventor Matt Darling said the technology was born from a need to improve safety, quality and efficiency in aged care.

“It is a world-first system … using real-time technology to reduce human error, maximise carer time and remove end of shift reporting,” he said.

Development of the software was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health.