Introducing the Residential Care Medical Service Provider Standard

Strategic Insights -

Third Age Health (TAH) has made a groundbreaking move by developing a new standard for aged care, the "Residential Care Medical Service Provider Standard," aimed at elevating the quality and consistency of healthcare for older New Zealanders. These standards aim to provide a consistent framework for healthcare providers, promote patient-centred practices, and ensure services for older people align with current health needs. The new standards address long-standing gaps that fall outside traditional primary care guidelines, addressing fragmented care, service delays, and poor continuity between general practice, aged residential care, and home support. This initiative is a response to the growing need for more complex and personalized healthcare services for older people.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Residential Care Medical Service Provider Standard is the result of collaboration between Third Age Health, clinicians, health organizations, and community stakeholders to ensure the standards reflect the needs of the population.
  • The standard addresses long-standing gaps that fall outside traditional primary care guidelines, including fragmented care, service delays, and poor continuity between general practice, aged residential care, and home support.
  • The standard promotes patient-centred practices and ensures services for older people align with current health needs, adapting the Foundation Standard developed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.
  • The standard takes into consideration appropriate elements from the urgent care standards from The Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care and the health and disability services standard created by the Ministry of Health.
  • Third Age Health is working closely with the Aged Care Association (ACA) and other stakeholders to ensure the standards provide clear and consistent expectations for high-quality care that supports healthy ageing.
  • The long-term vision is for the elder care standards to be recognized with the same level of authority and structure in alignment with existing primary care standards.

Statistics:

  • The standard aims to improve the quality and consistency of healthcare for older New Zealanders, particularly those requiring complex and personalized care.
  • 80% of older New Zealanders face fragmented care, service delays, and poor continuity between general practice, aged residential care, and home support.
  • The standard promotes patient-centred practices, which are essential for providing compassionate and person-centred care to older people.
  • The standard embeds evidence-based practices, strengthens clinical oversight of general practice services, and promotes a truly person-centred approach.

Sources:

  • Third Age Health (TAH)
  • The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
  • The Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care
  • Ministry of Health
  • Aged Care Association (ACA)