The National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program started on 1 July 2019 and requires all residential aged care service providers to collect data on each care recipient every quarter against the following three quality indicators:
- pressure injuries
- use of physical restraint
- unplanned weight loss.
1 July 30 September 2019 – providers must collect data for all three quality indicators.
The unplanned weight loss quality indicator has two collection categories: significant unplanned weight loss and consecutive unplanned weight loss.
The significant unplanned weight loss category requires the comparison of each care recipients’ final weight from the current quarter to the previous quarter.
The significant unplanned weight loss category may not have comparative data from the previous quarter. Therefore, significant unplanned weight loss data does not need to be submitted for the quarter ending 30 September 2019.
All quality indicator data (except for significant unplanned weight loss) is due for submission to the Department of Health by 21 October 2019.
Significant unplanned weight loss data collected for 1 July 30 September 2019 must be used to compare data collected in 1 October 31 December and is due for submission to the Department of Health by 21 January 2020.
Find more information about the program on the department’s website or by calling the My Aged Care Provider and Assessor Helpline on 1800 836 799.