Research Portfolio

EASI – Efforts to Attenuate the Spread of Infection: A prospective, multi-centre microbiological survey of Ultrasound Equipment in Australian Emergency Departments and Intensive Care units.

One of the causes of patients getting sick in hospital is the transfer of bacteria from one patient to the other (nosocomial infection). This transfer of bacteria can lead to serious illness, even death. There are numerous precautions taken in hospital to prevent this, such as hand washing, wearing gloves, sterile gowns and gloves during procedures etc. There has been a tremendous growth in the use of point of care ultrasound to assist clinicians in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Anaesthetic Department. We suspect that probes, which are in contact with patients’ skin are not cleaned as often…

Principal Investigator: Dr Ogilvie Thom
Amount Awarded: $9,625.75
Institution: Redcliffe Hospital

The impact of a new emergency department on patient presentations and ambulance service delivery

This research aimed to investigate the impact of opening a new ED within a health service district. The study involved linking ambulance, emergency department (ED) and hospital data from three EDs to better understand the patient journey and patient and health service outcomes when a new ED opens within the health service. The project aims were to: 1. Describe and compare patient and health service outcomes at three EDs before and 12 months after Robina ED opening; 2. Describe and compare outcomes for patients arriving to ED by ambulance based on whether off stretcher time is/is not delayed by >30…

Principal Investigator: Dr James Lind
Amount Awarded: $60,000.00
Institution: Gold Coast University Hospital

Impact of the Emergency Department Patient Admissions Predictive Tool (EDPAPT)

Hospital occupancy rates regularly approach 100%, with resultant access block, ambulance bypass, and the last-minute cancellation of elective surgery patients. More efficient management of inpatient beds to reduce these predicaments is imperative. This project will evaluate the impact of a patient admission forecasting system - the Emergency Department Patient Admissions Predictive Tool (EDPAPT) - that has been developed from analysis of historical admissions data at the Gold Coast Hospital. The aim of the project will determine whether a model that forecasts patient admissions can assist with the allocation of inpatient beds to alleviate one of the major problems of most…

Principal Investigator: Dr David Green
Amount Awarded: $100,000
Institution: Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service

Describing the experiences of social workers in a tertiary emergency department

The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Emergency and Trauma Centre is one of the largest emergency departments in Australia. It is the only one that includes an on-site team of social worker 24/7. This research project is the first conducted to explain the evolution of this service, its implications for the social work team, and for the department more broadly. This study involves a qualitative analysis of the experiences of this social work team, based on information provided during interviews. This is the proposed first phase of research, which will inform future research including measures such as compassion fatigue and…

Principal Investigator: Dr Alexandra Markwell
Amount Awarded: $14,735.00
Institution: Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital

Development and validation of a psychometric tool to measure the risk propensity of junior emergency doctors.

This pilot project brings together experts from the fields of emergency medicine, medical education and organisational psychology. Its aim is to develop a tool which may be used to evaluate risk propensity in emergency doctors. An individual’s propensity for risk and their decision making involving risk have both positive and negative consequences. It is most often revealed when faced with scenarios that involve a trade-off amongst competing demands. Risk-related behaviour may cause harm to self, staff and patients; however it can also be used positively when the potential benefit is high, e.g. when the risk associated with a procedure is…

Principal Investigator: Dr Charley McNabb
Amount Awarded: $36,808
Institution: Princess Alexandra Hospital