Emergency Medicine Foundation - Australasia (EMF)

Disasters can overwhelm healthcare systems, and whilst the Australian system routinely faces conventional issues like floods and cyclones, there are gaps in knowledge for non-conventional Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) disasters. This EMF part-funded study, led by Dr Jamie Ranse, investigated the capacity of emergency departments (EDs) in Queensland to prepare for CBRNe incidents. It focused on patient presentations, management of care and insights gained to improve future responses. The review used the Arksey and O’Malley five-step framework, gathering data from various databases and analysing 44 studies using keywords related to CBRN events and their impact on EDs. Dr Ranse and the research team emphasised that strengthening the EDs ability to coordinate CBRNe incidents is crucial for improving patient care. The study outlined several key strategies to improve the response to these disasters: assessing local risks, developing clinical pathways, maintaining flexible space and enhancing staff training, especially around personal protective equipment. Paper Link: https://lnkd.in/evtCAedJ Authors: Ranse J, Mackie B, Crilly J, Heslop D, Wilson B, Mitchell M, Weber S, Watkins N, Sharpe J, Handy M, Hertelendy A, Currie J, Hammad K. #EMFResearch #EmergencyMedicineResearch #MedicalResearch

Proud to hear Professor Andrew Staib, Deputy Director of Emergency Medicine at Princess Alexandra Hospital, present key results and recommendations from the EMF-funded SuPaFlow study (StUdy to analyse PAtient Flow)! A/Prof Staib then joined an expert Q&A panel featuring, among others, Deputy Director-General Dr Helen Brown to discuss flow challenges and possible solutions.  The SuPAFlow study was conducted by a research team comprising experts from CSIRO, Queensland Health, The University of Queensland and Queensland Ambulance Service. It is part of a collaboration between EMF and Queensland Health’s Healthcare Improvement Unit at Clinical Excellence Queensland aiming to address the challenge of patient flow and access block in public hospital EDs through an innovative research program. We look forward to working together on implementing these recommendations! For more information about the research program: https://lnkd.in/gzeSuf3k #EMFResearch #PatientFlowStudy #EmergencyMedicineResearch #QEDSAP2024 

What a fantastic event EMF & JTI’s Trauma Care Symposium yesterday was! Over 60 clinicians, researchers, and key stakeholders came together for an inspiring day of collaboration. We heard from passionate speakers outlining challenges to trauma care in regional, rural and remote areas and from EMF Trauma Care grant recipients showcasing innovative projects designed to enhance patient outcomes and experience. We finished with networking opportunities, allowing participants to connect and collaborate for future advancements in trauma care. Check out some highlights and moments from the event: - 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. EMF deeply appreciates the support from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) for this important grants program and our outstanding partnership with Jamieson Trauma Institute. Together, we are building a stronger future for emergency trauma responses in Queensland! #EMFResearch #TraumaCare #EmergencyMedicineResearch Queensland Ambulance Service Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section)

Highlights from the Trauma Care Symposium today! EMF and Jamieson Trauma Institute (JTI) brought together clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss how research can enhance emergency trauma care in regional, rural and remote Queensland. Session 1 featured project presentations from the recipients of the EMF Trauma Care grants. Check out some highlights from the first session below, including: - Welcoming speech from Mr Neil Singleton outlining Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC)'s motivation to support research. - Overview of the SIGHT project (Study of Imaging in Geriatric Head Trauma) led by Dr Tanya Mellett from Townsville Hospital and Health Service. - Preliminary results from the REPRIEVE project (Rural/Remote Emergency Pain Relief Investigation and Evaluation) led by Stephanie Nixon from Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS). - 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 (RSQ). More information on EMF’s Special Research Grants Program on Trauma Care here: https://lnkd.in/gaH2xdW #EMFResearch #TraumaCare #EmergencyMedicineResearch

Congratulations to Dr Jacob O'Gorman who has been awarded a Trauma Care in Regional, Rural, and Remote Queensland grant! “Every second counts with trauma care, especially in remote areas where the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Queensland is a vital lifeline,” says Dr O'Gorman. This project will analyse the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS) 24/7 telehealth services, medical chest and aeromedical retrieval model of trauma care, evaluating data from over 9,700 calls with the aim of enhancing responses to traumatic injuries and saving lives. This initiative will establish the first RFDS (Queensland Section) Trauma Research Network, significantly improving service delivery and patient outcomes in rural and remote areas. EMF thank the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) for their support for the Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland grants program. Stay tuned for insights that could transform trauma care in Queensland! Full article: https://lnkd.in/gYEum7B4 Photo (courtesy of RFDS): Maree Cummins, RFDS Flight Nurse and Dr Jacob O’Gorman, Chief Medical Officer RFDS. #EMFResearch #TraumaCare #RFDS #EmergencyMedicineResearch

Scholarship Applications Closing Soon!📣 The Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland scholarship program is closing on Monday, 28 October! All emergency clinicians interested in trauma care can apply for a scholarship to attend a university course for training in emergency healthcare research—no prior research experience needed! Thanks to the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) for its support to deliver this program. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gaH2xdW #EMFResearch #TraumaCare #emergencymedicineresearch

Well done to Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Clinical Policy Officer Brendan Schultz, who recently took a leap of faith by abseiling down Kangaroo Point to support the White Cloud Foundation’s Leaping Lads fundraiser.  This adventurous spirit is matched by his dedication to improving emergency care in our communities. In addition to his fundraising efforts, Brendan serves as co-investigator on two EMF grants aimed at enhancing prehospital care. The “REPRIEVE: Rural/Remote Emergency Pain Relief Investigation and Evaluation” study, led by Stephanie Nixon, focuses on out-of-hospital pain management for trauma patients in rural and remote Queensland. It seeks to compare pain management practices in these areas with those in major cities while identifying the barriers paramedics face in providing optimal care. Brendan is also part of the “Innovative Corrective Services and Ambulance Response Evaluation (ICARE)” project led by Dr Claire Bertenshaw. This initiative, a collaboration between QAS and Queensland Corrective Services, aims to improve the management of prisoners with minor orthopaedic injuries. By enhancing onsite care provided by QAS, the project seeks to reduce unnecessary hospital transfers and therefore improve patient outcomes and use of resources. Brendan’s contributions to these projects reflect his commitment to advancing healthcare in Queensland. Well done, Brendan!  🔗 https://lnkd.in/ggUnVdPi  🔗 https://lnkd.in/e2dVYeGV  #EMFResearch #EmergencyMedicineResearch #QAS  

Spotlight on Emergency Nurses in Research – Part 2 It's Day 3 of ICEN 2024! 🌟 This year’s conference in Sydney continues to showcase the essential contributions of emergency nurses, under the theme “Innovation to Translation: Bridging the Gap.” Building on emergency nursing perspectives, we are excited to highlight Dr Elizabeth Elder, Research Fellow at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Griffith University and Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Emergency Department, and President of the Queensland branch of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA). Dr Elder has dedicated her research career to improving the wellbeing of emergency clinicians. As the recipient of an EMF grant, she is conducting the “National Emergency Department Stress, Coping and Intention to Leave Survey” to investigate the impact of stressors on the health and performance of ED staff, aiming to promote positive coping strategies. She passionately believes that emergency nurses make exceptional researchers: “When emergency nurses are presented with a problem, they’ll find a way to get to the answer. We’re exceptionally pragmatic at making things work in difficult situations.” Dr Elder emphasises the importance of reshaping perceptions about the relationship between clinical practice and research: “I think it’s about shifting the mindset and recognising that ED, research, and practice do actually go together and that research informs nursing practice. To aspiring researchers, she offers this valuable advice: “Find a topic that interests you. The thing with research is you can’t resolve a problem without understanding it first, so you want to pick something that you are going to want to spend hours researching.” Let’s continue to celebrate the incredible contributions of emergency nurses like Dr Elizabeth Elder! 🙌 Take a look at Dr Elder’s impactful work here: https://lnkd.in/ecnSak5h #EMFResearch #icen2024 #EmergencyNursing #emergencymedicineresearch

Join this presentation today 17Oct at 12:30PM for an insightful talk by Professor Alan Clough at the James Cook University JCU Law Seminar Series 2024! Prof Clough’s seminar on “Emergency Mental Health Laws” will discuss the increasing mental health-related presentations in Queensland’s emergency departments (EDs) and the critical role of Emergency Examination Authorities (EEAs) on patient care and hospital practices. With thousands of mental health-related presentations to ED each year, understanding these crucial pathways is more important than ever. Join the event here: https://lnkd.in/g8wzGWzx This research was funded by an EMF grant awarded to a research team led by Prof Clough and Dr Richard Stone, ED Director at Cairns Hospital, to investigate EEAs and their impacts on North Queensland hospitals. The study highlighted the challenges faced by EDs as they adapt to legislative changes impacting mental health care in emergency situations. For more information about the project: https://lnkd.in/gmJuVtYc #EMFResearch #mentalhealth #emergencymedicineresearch #jamescookuniversity

Spotlight on Emergency Nurses in Research: Part 1 The International Conference for Emergency Nurses is starting today! 🎉 This year's ICEN 2024 in Sydney focuses on "Innovation to Translation: Bridging the Gap," shining a spotlight on the vital role of emergency nurses in healthcare. Nurses are integral members of the emergency healthcare workforce, and their insights and contributions are essential to improving patient outcomes. EMF has encouraged this by awarding 28 research grants to projects led by emergency nurse researchers since 2015. A standout recipient, Dr Amanda Harley, is Australia’s first dedicated paediatric sepsis Clinical Nurse Consultant. She has become a prominent advocate for sepsis awareness and treatment, and has led and contributed to numerous EMF funded projects. Dr Harley emphasises the importance of diving into research, “Nurses face the challenge in emergency research of perhaps not knowing where to begin. If you’re curious, lean into that and write down your ideas and what you want to achieve and why. Research appears hard, scary, and overwhelming, and it can be! However, you have to start somewhere, and you have the support of so many people that have done this many times before.” Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “One of the highlights of my career has been realising my curious mind is a gift... I have been able to achieve over 20 publications and a PhD in six years while balancing clinical work.” Let’s celebrate the incredible contributions of emergency nurses like Dr Amanda Harley! 🌟 Check out Dr Harley's latest EMF grant here: https://lnkd.in/efpPR8uX #EMFResearch #ICEN2024 #EmergencyNursing #EmergencyMedicineResearch College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service