New guidelines for investigation of clinical issues In aged care
The Department of Health and Ageing will strengthen guidelines on how investigation staff respond to concerns about clinical care including during serious disease outbreaks in nursing homes, the Federal Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, has announced.
During a disease outbreak, staff will be required to check on actual nursing home residents rather than just examining documentation and meeting with management and staff.
The Minister made the announcement in response to a report into the April 2007 gastro-enteritis outbreak at Broughton Hall Nursing home in Melbourne. Five residents of the home died.
The recommendation by Ms Rhonda Parker – who is now Aged Care Commissioner – is in a nine-month old report which the former Howard Government did not release.
Under the revised guidelines – being developed in conjunction with state, territory and local health authorities – nurses investigating concerns about clinical care will be given more specific guidance to ensure gaps in care can be identified and acted upon.
However, draft guidelines will take into account the parameters of a Commonwealth nursing officer’s clinical role as well as the clinical assessment process to be considered during an investigation.
To that end, the Department will be guided by relevant health authorities who play a role in infectious disease outbreaks and managing the risks to public health. They must also adhere to their nursing registration requirements through the nursing board in their state or territory.
