A new report from Griffith University has found that fragmented medication systems in Australian aged care are driving high rates of medication discrepancies and avoidable hospital admissions - costing the health system an estimated $312 million annually.
The study, led by Dr Maryam Sassoli and Associate Professor Luke Houghton from the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, examined the post-discharge medication (PDM) process as patients transition from hospital to residential aged care facilities (RACFs).
The research identified a 72.6 per cent medication discrepancy rate when medicines are transferred between healthcare settings. It also found that medication information can be transformed six or more times before reaching the patient, with each step introducing risk.
Dr Sassoli said the findings reveal a structural, not individual, problem, stating:
"This research shows the issue is not a lack of commitment from healthcare professionals - it's a fragmented system where medication information is repeatedly translated and re-entered, increasing the risk of error."
The doctoral research was validated through the CSIRO ON Prime program, with 65 stakeholders across aged care, pharmacy and hospital sectors confirming the problems have intensified.
Stakeholders consistently identified three priorities: interconnected software systems, adequate staffing and training, and standardised protocols across facilities.
A key insight was that the sector does not primarily lack technology, but implementation support.
Associate Professor Houghton said the challenge reflects a broader digital transformation issue:
"Healthcare doesn't suffer from a shortage of software. It suffers from systems that don't speak to each other and organisations that aren't supported to implement them effectively," he said. "If we treat this as a complex systems problem rather than a single technology fix, we can unlock major gains in safety, efficiency and cost reduction."
The report recommends leveraging Australia's existing electronic health record platform to reduce medication "translation moments", enable real-time information sharing, and strengthen continuity of care
With Australia's ageing population projected to reach 6.66 million people aged 65 and over by 2041, the researchers say reforming medication records management is critical to protecting patient safety and easing pressure on the health sector.
Read the full report here: https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/5904
