Background: As technology proliferation into aged care sector continues at a rapid pace, there is value in exploring the role of innovative technologies to facilitate palliative and End of Life (EOL) care.  Developed in 2019, the ELDAC Digital Dashboard was integrated into the clinical data management systems of four Aged Care IT companies to demonstrate the feasibility of system integration. 

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the merit and acceptability of the ELDAC Digital Dashboard used by RAC services connected to the four aged care IT systems

Method: Aged care services with access to the Dashboard were invited to take part in a three-month implementation evaluation trial. Each site was provided with an implementation support package which included: a dedicated Dashboard champion at each site, study team led dashboard training on dashboard use, Dashboard use guide and FAQs, and ongoing support to the site champion by the study team. Focus groups/interviews were held with nurses at each site before (pre-sessions) and after (post-sessions) the trial period. 

Results: 

 Fourteen RAC services were involved in the trial. 70 staff participated in the pre-sessions, and 42 participated in the post-sessions. Participants included RNs, ENs, CNCs, managers and careworkers. Qualitative findings indicated that the Dashboard was easy to use and helped nurses organise EOL care. Despite the challenging practice environment of aged care reform and time and resource constraints within facilities, the role of the dashboard in facilitating family conversations and enabling early EOL planning was valued. While variability in technology readiness was apparent and differences in how services used systems, the Dashboard filled a gap by providing both clinical and managerial utility. 

Conclusion: The use of ELDAC Digital Dashboard is feasible, acceptable, and value adding in the Australian residential aged care setting.