Australia's aged and community care providers face a myriad of complex challenges in the 21st century - a rapidly ageing population; the increasing prevalence of chronic illness such as diabetes; and a pronounced shift in government and community focus to prevention and wellness throughout our lives.

With 1.9 million Australians aged 70 and over and that number projected to double in 20 years, the industry needs to adapt to the radically different needs and expectations of senior Australians. As reported in Fujitsu's whitepaper, A Generational Shift: The Next Wave of Aged Care, lifestyle expectations will revolutionise the way aged and community care is delivered.

Of course, the increasing use of information technology presents its own tests for long term care providers, including error prone systems and processes, workflow and resource problems, the total cost of ownership, patient safety and up-skilling and retention of staff. However, using IT to capture, manage and access up-to-the minute patient information will help to address the everyday business issues providers' face - issues that must be accounted for when making IT investment decisions.

Fujitsu CarePoint

- providing access to secure patient data anytime, anywhere

Fujitsu CarePoint is powered by HSA Global. This software platform is specifically for integrated care and long term condition management, putting client health information in your hands - no matter where you or your patients happen to be.

The Fujitsu CarePoint software platform has been developed with everyday Microsoft technology, with new offerings introduced regularly to meet market needs.

Current solutions include:

• Fujitsu CarePoint LTCMS (Long Term Care Management Solution):
  - a highly configurable electronic health record, patient, mobile workforce and business management solution, with a range of specialist assessment and workflow features, which also incorporates a Patient Portal to involve clients and family members as active members in the care team.
• Fujitsu CarePoint MWC (Mobile Wound Care):
  - enhanced treatment and management of wounds for acute and community care providers using mobile devices such as Tablet PCs
• Fujitsu CarePoint STOMP
  - a personalised smoking cessation program delivered via mobile phone and web technologies to consumers. This is the first in a series of targeted "lifestyle change" interventions designed to promote better personal and population health outcomes.

Fujitsu Health Survey

Australia is facing unprecedented health divide as four in five baby boomers can't afford to pay.

Fujitsu conducted a survey in late 2008 which revealed more than four million of the country's 5.4 million baby boomers do not have the financial resources or insurance to pay for future health services clearly illustrating that Australia's current approach to long term healthcare is unsustainable and in need of reform.

The survey of 6,000 Australians aged between 45 and 64, conducted by Health Omnibus on behalf of Fujitsu Australia Limited, recommended urgent structural reform, with a greater focus on health preservation, education, community-based care and use of new technologies to manage the expected explosion in demand for health services by ill-prepared, aging baby boomers.

According to the report, The Healthcare Conundrum - Baby Boomers, Superannuation and Health Funding: The New Reality, most baby boomers won't have enough superannuation to fund their retirement and future healthcare needs.

The report contains recommendations developed by Fujitsu following a workshop where the survey’s findings and implications were discussed by a range of senior healthcare practitioners, managers, advisors and business owners at the Australian College of Health Service Executives (ACHSE) National Congress in August 2008.

Why Choose Fujitsu?

The world's third-largest IT company, Fujitsu is uniquely positioned to provide fully managed, end-to-end healthcare information systems and services that will improve patient outcomes and accelerate business returns. We work with healthcare providers in jurisdictions around the world, leveraging our global experience and technological innovation with local know-how and great customer service.

Fujitsu's ability to continuously improve the way IT can work for the healthcare industry as a whole includes technology infrastructure, comprehensive support processes and a network of skilled support professionals that collectively optimise worldwide knowledge management. We make it our business to understand your business challenges and work with you to solve them.