Trauma Care Symposium
24 October 2024
EMF and Jamieson Trauma Institute (JTI) brought together over 60 clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss how research can enhance emergency trauma care in regional, rural and remote Queensland.
It was an inspiring day of collaboration focused on improving trauma care, featuring passionate speakers who outlined the challenges faced in these regions and showcased innovative projects from EMF Trauma Care grant recipients aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and experiences. The Trauma Care program is funded by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC).
Event highlights included:
– Welcoming speeches from EMF Board Chair Prof Hugh Grantham, JTI Director Prof Michael Schuetz and MAIC’s Commissioner Mr Neil Singleton.
– Project presentations by all Trauma Care recipients, for example an overview of the SIGHT project (Study of Imaging in Geriatric Head Trauma) led by Dr Tanya Mellett from Townsville University Hospital, preliminary results from the REPRIEVE project (Rural/Remote Emergency Pain Relief Investigation and Evaluation) led by Stephanie Nixon from Queensland Ambulance Service, and an introduction to the REMAIN study (Interhospital transfer of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in rural and remote Queensland – can “low-value” transfers be avoided?) by Dr Clinton Gibbs from QAS’s Retrieval Services Queensland.
– An insightful address from A/Prof Ulrich Orda from Mt Isa Base Hospital, outlining limitations to trauma care in his emergency department, his ED’s solutions for these challenges and what external support he would love to see.
– The incredible story of Zach Nightingale, a trauma patient talking about his motor vehicle crash and what he thinks trauma clinicians can do to make the worst days and months of his life better.
– A thought-provoking panel discussion featuring speakers highlighting key challenges in providing trauma care in rural and remote areas such as limited access to specialised services, reliance on aeromedical retrievals, and a strong preference for in-person interactions among rural patients. The panel discussed the benefits of expanding telehealth and adopting newer technologies such as drones or AI, but also stressed the importance of the human aspect in terms of effective communication and strong relationships.
We are grateful for the support from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission for this essential grants program and our partnership with the Jamieson Trauma Institute. Together, we are committed to improving emergency trauma responses in Queensland!
For more information on EMF’s Special Research Grants Program: Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland.
Image gallery:
SHARE
