In 2003 NICS established an Emergency Care Community of Practice for clinicians, health managers and health care professionals involved in the delivery of emergency care, so that they can share their knowledge and expertise to help close evidence-practice gaps and improve patient care. This program has now been completed. The NHMRC is taking a different approach in the leadership of research translation and will focus on providing strategic support to translate research into practice for the research streams that NHMRC funds.
Achievements
- Engaged a sector of health which sees over 7 million patients each year. Many of these patients do not access other health services and come from marginalised communities.
- Engaged 80% of Australian Hospital Emergency Departments in projects instigated through the EC CoP.
- Established and maintained an active and vibrant network of over 400 people focused on improving clinical care based on the best available evidence.
- Positioned clinicians into national leadership roles that influence national policy and clinical guidelines including in the areas of mental health and pain management.
- Brought together medical, nursing, paramedical and allied health clinical leaders, researchers and professional colleges to work together to improve the uptake of evidence based practice across the emergency care sector nationally.
Projects
- The National Emergency Care Pain Management Initiative (2008-2011) to implement guidelines to improve emergency department pain management.
- Development of evidence-based resources to improve the implementation of guideline recommendations for acute stroke and TIA management in the ED (Emergency Department Stroke and TIA Care Bundle 2009) and evaluation of the tools.
- Mental Health Emergency Care Project (2004 – 2006) - improving care for people with a mental health problems who present to emergency departments.