Should I integrate AN-ACC assessments into my clinical governance framework?

• The experiences of over 40 aged care providers, representing 30,000 beds, on their transition to AN-ACC
• What are the factors that providers should consider when making the decision if or when to adopt the AN-ACC assessments
• Which assessments may be more fit for purpose or beneficial than others
• Some examples of the approach taken by providers on the panel

Each provider will need to consider what is best for their service but a more measured approach and plan will be less disruptive for the organisation and therefore more likely to result in greater success and benefit to the residents.

While some care management systems have started to release AN-ACC assessment tools into their suite of assessments, providers should consider whether integrating these assessments into their clinical governance framework is beneficial and when is the best time to do this.

The AN-ACC funding model was designed to identify the clinical characteristics of aged care residents that influence the cost of care and the proportion of care costs that, on average, are shared across residents versus those costs related to individual needs.

The AN-ACC assessment tool consists of nine sections incorporating the following assessments:

1. Technical Nursing Requirements
2. Resource Utilisation Groups – Activities of Daily Living (RUG-ADL)
3. Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status (AKPS)
4. Palliative Care
5. Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale
6. Braden Scale
7. Australian Modified Functional Independence Measure (AM-FIM)
8. De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI)
9. Behaviour Resource Utilisation Assessment (BRUA)

These assessments were designed and chosen because they take a conversational approach for clinicians that have limited knowledge of the resident and have not been designed to be comprehensive enough to support a consumer centric and thorough approach to care planning.

The Department of Health’s fact sheet specifies ‘AN-ACC Assessment considers the attributes or characteristics that drive the cost of care for residential aged care residents and is not the same as care planning. Providers must continue to prepare care plans for each resident as required under the aged care quality standards.’