$4.4 million in funding for AI tool to improve medication safety in aged care

Dr Nasir Wabe. Photo: Macquarie University

A new project that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce over-medication in aged care has been awarded $4.4 million in funding. The grant, from the Medical Research Future Fund, will help researchers develop an innovative AI tool aimed at improving medication safety and ensuring better care for older Australians.

Dr. Nasir Wabe, a researcher at Macquarie University’s Australian Institute of Health Innovation, is leading the project. He and his team will work with several partners, including BestMed, Choice Aged Care, Anglicare, and more, to develop and test this new AI-powered platform.

Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at Macquarie University, explained that this research could significantly improve the safety and quality of care for older Australians. “AI technology holds great potential to help clinicians make better, more informed decisions about medications, which is crucial for the well-being of residents in aged care,” he said.

What is deprescribing and how does AI help?

Deprescribing refers to the process of reducing or stopping medications that are no longer necessary or could be causing harm. This is done under strict supervision to ensure the safety of the patient. In aged care, deprescribing can be challenging due to factors like multiple health conditions, communication gaps between healthcare providers, and hesitance to adjust medication regimens.

Dr. Wabe’s project aims to overcome these challenges by integrating AI into the daily workflows of healthcare providers. The AI platform will offer personalized, data-driven insights that help clinicians make safer, more confident decisions about which medications to reduce or stop.

“The vast amount of electronic health data in aged care is a huge opportunity for AI to make a real difference in medication safety,” said Dr. Wabe. The AI tool will provide clinicians with valuable information to support their decision-making, ultimately helping to reduce unnecessary medications and improve overall care for older Australians.

The project is a collaborative effort, with key researchers from several leading universities and health networks across Australia, including the University of Western Australia, University of Queensland, and University of Sydney, among others.

 

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A special thanks to our contributors

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Caroline Egan

DCM Media, agedcare101

Caroline has a wealth of experience writing within the retirement and aged care sector and is a contributing journalist for the Villages.com.au and agedcare101 blog and accompanying newsletters.

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Ian Horswill

Journalist

Ian is a journalist, writer and sub-editor for the aged care sector, working at The DCM Group. He writes for The Weekly Source, agedcare101, villages.com.au and the DCM Institute fortnightly newsletter Friday. Ian is in daily contact with CEOs of retirement living, land lease and the aged care operations and makes a new contact every week. He investigates media releases, LinkedIn and Facebook for a good source for ideas for stories.

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Lauren Broomham

Retirement and Aged Care Journalist

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.

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Jill Donaldson

Physiotherapist

Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

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Chris Baynes

DCM Media, agedcare101

Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

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Annie Donaldson

Nurse and Carer

Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.