Aim:
The mandatory quality indicator program (QI Program) requires residential aged care providers to report quarterly data across 14 indicators. The data is intended to drive continuous improvement, but practical use can be limited by fragmented data systems and lack of digital tools to facilitate effective use. This study developed and piloted a user-centred dashboard designed to transform QI Program clinical indicators’ data into actionable insights for quality tracking and person-centred care.
Methods:
Using a participatory design methodology, the dashboard was collaboratively designed with a large multi-state organisation, iteratively built through multiple development, feedback and update cycles, and piloted with 30 staff across 13 aged care homes. Usability was evaluated using the system usability scale (SUS).
Results:
The dashboard supports strategic oversight and personalised care through multi-level exploration of data: comparing groups of facilities, viewing details of individual facilities and individual residents. Pilot results demonstrated strong usability (SUS: 75.2) and high user satisfaction. Over 85% of post-pilot survey respondents thought the dashboard would support personalised care and were likely to recommend the dashboard to colleagues. Over 90% agreed or strongly agreed that it would enhance quality monitoring and improvement. The resident-level view was particularly praised for its potential to enable targeted interventions for individual residents based on triggered indicators.
Conclusion:
Dashboards can facilitate practical use of QI Program data by empowering care teams to efficiently identify underperforming domains, prioritise care, and monitor progress. Future work will explore integrating the dashboard into routine workflows and evaluating long-term impact on resident outcomes.