Alexander Aged Care’s digital transformation journey

Published: 20 June 2023

The challenge

Alexander Aged Care, operated by the Armenian Rest Home Association, has been providing residential aged care to the Armenian and wider community since the 1980s. The organisation had already been using PCS's clinical care software for several years, but managing maintenance remained a challenge. Requests were recorded on paper, making it difficult to keep track of outstanding jobs and organise regular maintenance schedules.

The team wanted a straightforward way for staff to report issues, manage recurring tasks and follow work through to completion. Simplicity was particularly important. Alexander Aged Care wanted software that staff could navigate confidently without lengthy forms or repetitive processes, while keeping costs manageable. As the organisation developed its digital approach, it also wanted systems that could share information and reduce the need to enter the same details in multiple places.

Bringing care and daily operations into a more connected way of working

Alexander Aged Care wanted technology that made everyday work simpler across the whole home, from recording resident care to managing maintenance, feedback and quality processes. By combining PCS Care with Operations Management, powered by Centrim Life, including Maintenance Management and Feedback and Quality Management, the organisation has made information easier to access, reduced repetitive admin and given staff more practical ways to manage their responsibilities.

Operations Management (Centrim Life): Keeping everyday tasks straightforward

Ease of use was one of the main reasons Alexander Aged Care chose Operations Management (Centrim Life). Mariola Suwart, Director of Nursing, valued the system's straightforward interface and affordable cost. Staff could navigate the software without working through lengthy forms, making it easier to introduce across the home.

Operations Management (Centrim Life) also gave the organisation a central place to review important operational information, evaluate outstanding work and take action when needed. For Alexander Aged Care, having a simpler way to manage these responsibilities has reduced the administrative effort involved in keeping the home running.

Maintenance Management: Making requests quicker to report and resolve

Maintenance Management has made a noticeable difference to how Alexander Aged Care handles everyday jobs. Staff can scan QR codes at nursing stations to view maintenance requests and see which jobs still need attention. The team can also create requests as issues arise and schedule recurring maintenance monthly or quarterly.

This has made maintenance work easier to organise and follow up, with staff spending less time requesting and resolving jobs. Having a clearer view of outstanding work also means the team can keep track of maintenance throughout the day without relying on separate paper records.

Feedback and Quality Management: Making quality information easier to act on

Alexander Aged Care also uses Feedback and Quality Management to support continuous improvement and reporting. The team can create surveys for staff, residents and families, collect responses and generate reports from the feedback received. This gives the organisation a practical way to listen to the people who live and work at the home.

Incident reporting is another important part of the system. Staff can record hazards and accidents, while managers can review the information when preparing reports or identifying areas that need attention. The Plan for Continuous Improvement feature allows Alexander Aged Care to create and manage improvement plans, with the reporting tools also proving useful during accreditation.

Together, these capabilities give the team a clearer way to manage feedback, document incidents and demonstrate its approach to quality improvement.

PCS Care: Making care recording easier for a diverse team

Alexander Aged Care had already been using PCS Care for several years before introducing Operations Management (Centrim Life). The care team uses handheld devices to record care at the point of delivery, keeping resident information readily available throughout the working day.

The icon-driven Care Delivery App has been particularly valuable for staff whose first language is not English. By selecting the relevant icons, carers can generate progress notes without having to spend long periods typing at a computer. For Alexander Aged Care, this has made daily recording more accessible and given staff greater freedom to remain with residents rather than completing notes at the end of their shift.

The organisation has also continued developing its digital approach by adopting electronic medication management from Webstercare and pain assessment technology from PainChek. Choosing systems that integrate was important to the team because information can be shared more easily, reducing duplicate data entry and supporting a more connected approach to care.

 

 

Technology that works around the people delivering care

Alexander Aged Care's approach to technology has been guided by a simple priority: making everyday work easier for the people delivering and supporting care. By choosing systems that staff can use confidently, the organisation has created a more practical working environment where important information is easier to access and everyday responsibilities take less time to manage.

For a home supporting residents from many cultural backgrounds, that accessibility matters. Staff can get on with their work, communicate more easily and spend more of their day focused on the people who call Alexander Aged Care home.