Australian Health Review[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Prevalence and characteristics of potentially avoidable unplanned readmissions: a retrospective cohort study.
Sharma Y, Mangoni AA, Rao S … +5 more , Kariyawasam Batuwaththagamage I, Kaambwa B, Woodman R, Horwood C, Thompson C
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Aug · PMID 40588225 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Unplanned readmissions are key indicators of hospital care quality, yet research on potentially avoidable unplanned readmissions (PAURs) remains limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, causes, and...
OBJECTIVE: Unplanned readmissions are key indicators of hospital care quality, yet research on potentially avoidable unplanned readmissions (PAURs) remains limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, causes, and predictors of PAURs in an Australian tertiary hospital. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all unplanned readmissions to a general medicine unit between 1 July and 30 September 2022, in South Australia. Patients aged ≥18 years readmitted within 30 days of discharge were included. A panel of senior clinicians assessed the preventability of each readmission using predefined criteria. Data on demographics, comorbidities, frailty, inflammatory markers, and discharge factors were collected. Predictors of PAURs were examined using multivariable logistic regression and LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 381 readmissions, 80 (21%) were classified as potentially avoidable. The mean age was 68.7 years (s.d. 18.2), and 58.3% were female. The most common cause of PAURs was relapse of the condition treated during the index admission (43%), followed by treatment-related complications (22.8%). Contributing factors included suboptimal care during the index admission (43.8%) and inadequate post-discharge follow-up (30%). Compared to non-avoidable readmissions, PAUR patients were older, more frequently readmitted within 7 days, and had higher rates of coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure (CHF). They also had higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) on admission. Multivariable analysis identified CHF (aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.28-4.71) and elevated NLR (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08) as independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Over one in five readmissions were potentially avoidable, and only a few patient characteristics can predict avoidable readmissions.
Voluntary assisted dying in Queensland: doctors' perceptions of its first year of operation.
Ley Greaves L, Feeney R, Willmott L … +1 more , White BP
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Aug · PMID 40499972 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) became legal in Queensland in January 2023. This research examines the perceptions of doctors who have no in-principle objection to VAD, about the first year of VAD operation. ME...
OBJECTIVE: Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) became legal in Queensland in January 2023. This research examines the perceptions of doctors who have no in-principle objection to VAD, about the first year of VAD operation. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 doctors 1 year after VAD had been in operation. RESULTS: Three themes were developed: VAD is largely accepted as an end-of-life option and there is a collaborative approach with palliative care; VAD is being delivered as a public medical service, providing high-quality, timely access; and despite provision as a public medical service, there are remaining system access issues. CONCLUSIONS: The first year of VAD in Queensland has been generally positive, however, ongoing system access issues need to be addressed to ensure long-term sustainability of the service.
Corporatisation and ownership concentration in diagnostic imaging: an audit of Australian practices.
Docking S, Lacy-Nichols J, Hensher M … +1 more , Buchbinder R
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Aug · PMID 40489901 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Increasing ownership of health service providers by large for-profit corporations, along with high ownership concentration that reduces competition, may negatively affect healthcare access, quality, and costs....
OBJECTIVE: Increasing ownership of health service providers by large for-profit corporations, along with high ownership concentration that reduces competition, may negatively affect healthcare access, quality, and costs. Our objective was to determine the ownership of Australian diagnostic imaging clinics by ownership category and identify areas of high ownership concentration. METHODS: A list of clinics providing ultrasound, X-ray, and at least one advanced imaging modality (computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) were obtained from Services Australia on 31 March 2024. Information about ownership of diagnostic imaging clinics was extracted from the Australian Business Register, the Orbis database, and if necessary, a search of the clinic website. The number and proportion of diagnostic imaging clinics by ownership category were calculated. Areas of high ownership concentration were defined as one company owning ≥30% of non-government owned clinics within a jurisdiction. RESULTS: A total of 1235 diagnostic imaging clinics were identified, with ownership data obtained for 1226 (99.3%). Most clinics are owned by for-profit corporations (public limited n = 412; 33.6%, institutional investor-backed n = 277; 22.6%). Areas of high ownership concentration were identified in South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and Australian Capital Territory. Four companies (two public limited and two investor-backed) own ≥50% of clinics that provide Medicare-rebatable MRI services. CONCLUSIONS: The Australian diagnostic imaging sector is dominated by large for-profit corporations, with high ownership concentration apparent in four jurisdictions. For-profit corporations, healthcare system managers, and funders may have conflicting goals. It is incumbent upon Australian federal, state, and territory governments to ensure that public funds are used to provide affordable, high-value care.
: What factors affect the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals working in hospitals? A systematic literature review.
Baumgartner L, Wright O, Barne K … +5 more , Bartrim K, Kirkegaard A, Sullivan V, Burch E, Ball L
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Apr · PMID 40471847 · Publisher ↗
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Strategic optimisation of the allied health assistant workforce one step at a time: first step, workforce governance.
Whelan L, Wolters C, Gardner M … +3 more , Kim H, Saccotelli K, Diacogiorgis D
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Aug · PMID 40467065 · Publisher ↗
Allied health assistants (AHAs) are a vital workforce in Australia, supporting allied health professionals (AHPs) to expand service access and progress care, ensuring workforce sustainability. Tiered models of care that...
Allied health assistants (AHAs) are a vital workforce in Australia, supporting allied health professionals (AHPs) to expand service access and progress care, ensuring workforce sustainability. Tiered models of care that include AHAs can facilitate top of scope and advanced scope work for AHPs, increasing staff satisfaction and retention. Despite the increased research interest on AHAs, barriers to maximising the potential of this workforce persist. The Victorian Department of Health recently released recommendations aimed at optimising the AHA workforce, with inadequate workforce governance recognised as a barrier. Centralising governance processes for AHAs ensures a single point of accountability and standardisation of processes, positively affecting patient safety and quality of care. To enable suitable AHA governance structures, recognition of the importance of this workforce in local and national strategies is required. However, there are few existing state-based frameworks dedicated to AHA governance, and the current draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy does not include AHAs, which represents a missed opportunity to strengthen and grow this important element of the allied health workforce.
Enhancing digital healthcare: aligning Australia's digital health strategies with value-based healthcare principles.
Tait P, Daff D, Everingham P … +5 more , Leahy A, Parker R, Perry R, Smith M, Morris D
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Jun · PMID 40457515 · Publisher ↗
Objective This appraisal aims to map Australian digital healthcare strategies at the territory, state, and national levels, utilising a value-based healthcare (VBHC) framework to identify key processes in building value...
Objective This appraisal aims to map Australian digital healthcare strategies at the territory, state, and national levels, utilising a value-based healthcare (VBHC) framework to identify key processes in building value into digital health initiatives. Methods The researchers conducted an Advanced Google search to identify strategic frameworks relevant to delivering digital healthcare solutions. They screened documents based on set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using Braun and Clarke's approach to thematic analysis, the researchers mapped the contents of the strategic digital health documents against a published VBHC framework to identify 10 common key processes for embedding VBHC into digital health initiatives. Results The strategic documents collectively align with VBHC. In mapping these documents, this review identified 10 key processes organisations delivering digitally based healthcare services can use to integrate VBHC into digital healthcare services. Additionally, the review highlighted two gaps in the strategic documents that could enhance their alignment with VBHC principles. First, to address the health inequities that certain groups face, it is essential to explore how priority populations connect with virtual care services. Second, a national approach must be undertaken to develop patient-centred outcomes and experience measures to demonstrate how digital health innovations improve service effectiveness and accessibility. Conclusions In mapping the digital strategies against a published VBHC framework, we have identified 10 key processes for embedding VBHC into new digital health innovations. Strategic documents must advocate for building digital health innovations that consider priority populations and foster patient-centred measures that enhance effectiveness and accessibility.
Artificial intelligence medical scribes in allied health: a solution in search of evidence?
Ryan L, Hattingh L
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Jun · PMID 40457512 · Publisher ↗
Artificial intelligence (AI) medical scribes (AI scribes), which ambiently record and transcribe patient-clinician interactions into structured documentation, aim to ameliorate documentation burdens, but their suitabilit...
Artificial intelligence (AI) medical scribes (AI scribes), which ambiently record and transcribe patient-clinician interactions into structured documentation, aim to ameliorate documentation burdens, but their suitability for allied health remains unclear. AI scribes are often designed for doctors, raising concerns about accuracy, workflow integration, and applicability to allied health's diverse documentation needs. While potential benefits include improved efficiency and patient engagement, evidence is lacking for their effectiveness in allied health settings. Risks such as AI bias, patient safety, and integration barriers may also require consideration. This paper argues that further research is needed before widespread allied health adoption, emphasising the need for discipline-specific evaluations to assess AI scribes' viability in allied health practice.
Evaluation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outpatient Clinic: a mixed-methods study.
Druce T, Cronin S, Vandenberg A … +1 more , Kerr D
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40414621 · Publisher ↗
Objectives An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outpatient Clinic (the Clinic) was established in 2021 at a large metropolitan health service in Melbourne, Australia. The Clinic is a tailored, inclusive, culturally s...
Objectives An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outpatient Clinic (the Clinic) was established in 2021 at a large metropolitan health service in Melbourne, Australia. The Clinic is a tailored, inclusive, culturally safe and consumer-focused hospital outpatient service model of care. This study is an evaluation of the Clinic. Methods The study used a mixed-methods approach using prospective and retrospective recruitment. Eleven patients attending the Clinic in 2024 or in the 12months prior were interviewed to investigate their experience with the Clinic. In addition, 15 patients completed a cross-sectional patient satisfaction survey. Results Four key themes emerged: (1) healthcare provider relationship, (2) positive impact on health, (3) logistic factors and (4) cultural safety. Sub-themes were identified for the key themes. Survey responses were very positive (>80% provided a strongly agree response) for survey items related to interpersonal skills and cultural safety. Positive, but slightly lower ratings (<70% provided a strongly agree response) were received for statements relating to shared decision making, education and access. Recommendations were made regarding navigating the health service, including allocation of a point of contact for assistance with appointments, an additional and final appointment after their plan of care is established, and basing the Clinic in the community. Conclusions An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outpatient Clinic previously designed with information provided by Aboriginal patients and healthcare providers was evaluated from the patient's perspective. The findings contribute to a better understanding of enablers to accessing health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Promoting access to voluntary assisted dying: an interpretivist exploratory study of health services in Queensland, Australia.
Hewitt J, Wilson M, Bloomer MJ … +2 more , Rennie C, Bonner A
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40398880 · Publisher ↗
Objective Voluntary assisted dying is a contested practice that some end-of-life care providers choose not to offer to patients. In some jurisdictions, this has restricted access. Queensland addressed this with a law des...
Objective Voluntary assisted dying is a contested practice that some end-of-life care providers choose not to offer to patients. In some jurisdictions, this has restricted access. Queensland addressed this with a law designed to ensure that access to voluntary assisted dying was not hindered. The aim of this research was to explore how privately funded health services that provide end-of-life care, prepared for, and identified challenges related to, enabling access to voluntary assisted dying in Queensland. Methods An interpretivist exploratory study was undertaken. Health service representatives responsible for developing and implementing organisational voluntary assisted dying policy were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed thematically. Results Fifteen participants participated in an interview. Analysis of the data generated four themes: navigating a spectrum of values and beliefs; knowing and understanding voluntary assisted dying; moderating voluntary assisted dying conversations; and finding space for voluntary assisted dying in end-of-life care. The preparedness of privately funded health services for voluntary assisted dying varied, yet all providers were committed to providing compassionate end-of-life care while meeting their new legal obligations. The need to support staff with a range of values and beliefs about voluntary assisted dying was highlighted. Conclusions Using law to balance the rights of individuals to access voluntary assisted dying and those of non-participating organisations obliges all health services to consider patient access, the views of staff, and broader organisational values concerning voluntary assisted dying. Future research will explore whether access to voluntary assisted dying is affected.
Are people with diabetes mHealth-ready? Smartphone utilisation in a socioeconomically marginalised urban Australian general practitioner-led diabetes clinic.
Chua D, Vasconcelos Silva C, Hedfi S … +6 more , Pointon K, Comans TA, Mayr HL, Janda M, Russell AW, Menon A
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40389226 · Publisher ↗
Objective Mobile Health (mHealth), a subset of digital health, requires people to own smartphones, but ownership barriers overlap with social factors linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) burden. We describe the prevalence of...
Objective Mobile Health (mHealth), a subset of digital health, requires people to own smartphones, but ownership barriers overlap with social factors linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) burden. We describe the prevalence of smartphone ownership, app use and mobile internet access and factors around uptake and utilisation among people with T2D accessing care in a community setting. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed with people with diabetes attending a community-based general practitioner-led diabetes clinic located in Inala, a multiculturally diverse but socioeconomically marginalised suburban region of Brisbane, Queensland. The survey was read aloud to participants, with interpreters if required. Results There were 104 participants, the median age was 63years, 47.1% were female and 44.2% spoke language(s) other than English (LOTE) at home. Smartphone ownership was high (85.6%), and average self-rated confidence with advanced feature use was between 'somewhat confident' and 'confident'. Older adults were significantly less likely to own smartphones, less confident with advanced features and less likely to use apps regularly, but many knew someone who could support uptake. LOTE spoken at home was not associated with ownership, mobile internet access, app use or self-rated confidence with advanced feature use, suggesting smartphone technology is already part of daily life. Conclusions Smartphone ownership and utilisation does not appear to be a major barrier to mHealth uptake in our context. Older adults need tailored supports and education to encourage mHealth uptake.
Assessing the value of online palliative care information.
Nicholls S, Tieman J
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40383708 · Publisher ↗
Objective This study aimed to assess the value of an online palliative care resource (CareSearch) in providing evidence-based information to clinicians and consumers; and online palliative care information more broadly f...
Objective This study aimed to assess the value of an online palliative care resource (CareSearch) in providing evidence-based information to clinicians and consumers; and online palliative care information more broadly from the perspective of key stakeholder organisations. Methods Nine semi-structured interviews with representatives from key stakeholder organisations were undertaken. A pragmatic, qualitative analytical approach was used to identify key findings. Results Seven key findings were identified. These emphasised the criticality of CareSearch, the importance of access to high-quality online palliative care information, the need for a robust palliative care evidence base, challenges to the delivery of palliative care, the need to improve visibility, the need to improve accessibility, and the importance of co-design and lived experience. Conclusions CareSearch and online palliative care information have a critical role to play in responding to the challenges facing the sector. Maximising the value of such information will require improvements in access to evidence, visibility, usability, and the development of resources tailored to diverse users.
Perceived motivators and barriers to research engagement for psychologists in an Australian public healthcare service: insights from the research capacity and culture survey.
Lee YC, Miller C, Ure A
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40383706 · Publisher ↗
Objective Building capacity to embed research into care is central to improving healthcare delivery. Psychologists are well equipped and uniquely positioned to conduct clinical research given the significant research com...
Objective Building capacity to embed research into care is central to improving healthcare delivery. Psychologists are well equipped and uniquely positioned to conduct clinical research given the significant research component of clinical training. Despite this, relatively little is known about how psychologists working in Australian public health rate their own skills and capacity for research at a team and organisational level. Methods Ninety-two psychologists working at Monash Health, Victoria, Australia completed the validated Research Capacity and Culture tool and answered questions relating to perceived barriers and motivators to research engagement in their clinical roles. Results While psychologists rated their own individual capacity to engage in research as high, they perceived the research skills and success of their clinical teams and the organisation as low to moderate. Inductive content analyses revealed constraints of clinical role, lack of system/infrastructure, and lack of organisational/team visibility as barriers to research engagement, whereas drive for clinical excellence, internal motivation and a positive team culture were highlighted as motivators. Conclusions We discuss the potential untapped resource of psychologists in Australian public health who are interested and skilled to engage in research but perceive challenges of a lack of research capacity and culture within their team and organisation.
A guide to using measures of socio-economic status, remoteness and population denominators from the Australian Bureau of Statistics for epidemiological studies.
Youens D, Sodhi-Berry N, Stacey I … +2 more , Ahmed M, Katzenellenbogen JM
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40383705 · Publisher ↗
Objective Australian Bureau of Statistics data on socio-economic status, service accessibility/remoteness and population denominators are useful in epidemiology, though complex to understand and apply. We provide informa...
Objective Australian Bureau of Statistics data on socio-economic status, service accessibility/remoteness and population denominators are useful in epidemiology, though complex to understand and apply. We provide information and resources to facilitate their use. Methods We compiled data from the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and population estimates from across multiple years, taking into account changes in availability and formats of these data over time. Syntax was written to support use of these data in studies using administrative health data, alongside a user guide with notes and instructions. Results Where research data contains an event date plus a postcode, Statistical Area Level 2 and/or Statistical Local Area, these resources can be used to attach a SEIFA score and decile, remoteness areas and age-sex-specific population denominators to each record for years 2000-2025 (population denominators to 2023). These variables can be used as cohort descriptors, as model covariates or to calculate ARIA/SEIFA stratified rates. Conclusions These resources are useful for individual research projects, while also contributing to building capacity in the use of geographical measures. We focused on the measures most commonly used in Australia, although the approach outlined can be applied to other geographical measures.
Planning for the future of the Australian midwifery workforce: the Midwifery Futures workforce model.
Small K, Boyce M, Warton C … +4 more , Baird K, Bradfield Z, Fenwick J, Homer C
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40355108 · Publisher ↗
Objective Quality maternity service provision relies on having a robust midwifery workforce. Although previous models suggested future growth of the workforce, this is at odds with recent reports of staffing shortfalls a...
Objective Quality maternity service provision relies on having a robust midwifery workforce. Although previous models suggested future growth of the workforce, this is at odds with recent reports of staffing shortfalls and difficulties in recruitment. We developed an updated model to provide long-term projections of supply and demand for the Australian midwifery workforce. Methods A dynamic stock and flow model was built from baseline data from 2022, with projections through to 2030. It was assumed that 79% of the midwifery workforce would provide clinical care, working 20h per week to meet a workload of 40 pregnancies per full-time equivalent midwife per year. Results If recruitment and attrition remain stable, both headcount and full-time equivalent numbers of midwives will increase by 2030, exceeding demand. The average annual workload per full-time equivalent midwife would fall to 34 pregnancies. However, if voluntary attrition rose by 10%, there would be a rapid and devastating decrease in numbers. The average workload for a full-time equivalent midwife would rise to 66 pregnancies per year by 2030. Conclusions The Midwifery Futures model demonstrated the sensitivity of the Australian midwifery workforce to a small change in attrition. Preventing midwives' exit from the workforce by improving their experiences in the workplace and increasing access to midwifery continuity roles would build workforce resilience. Minimising attrition, enhancing midwives' engagement, and matching student intake to attrition can assist in maintaining a robust Australian midwifery workforce.
Private car travel is the dominant form of transport to work for healthcare workers across Greater Western Sydney: a short report on a large travel survey.
Mazumdar S, Jalaludin B, Surplice D … +5 more , Conaty S, Jobburn K, Stanbury L, Ryan H, Chow JSF
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40350247 · Publisher ↗
Objective Healthcare workers (HCWs) form an essential segment of the workforce. Investigating active commuting within the workforce, especially HCWs, is important. However, limited research exists in this domain. Methods...
Objective Healthcare workers (HCWs) form an essential segment of the workforce. Investigating active commuting within the workforce, especially HCWs, is important. However, limited research exists in this domain. Methods This study, conducted under the auspices of the Greater Western Sydney Health Partnership, a collaboration between three western Sydney local health districts, surveyed over 5000 HCWs to explore their commuting behaviours and attitudes towards commuting. Results We found that almost three quarters (72.8%) of HCWs drove a private vehicle to work, usually parking on site. Less than 5% of respondents used carpooling or active transport methods such as walking or cycling. Distance was stated as a critical barrier to walking or cycling, although road safety and security concerns were also important. Time constraints, as well as the lack of public transport services, were considered barriers to utilising public transport. The survey results highlight the constraints preventing the widespread adoption of non-car commuting modes and should inform decision-making on incentivising healthy commuting options among HCWs. Conclusions HCWs in a metropolitan Global North context such as western Sydney predominantly drive to work, with only 16.9% using public transport or walking or cycling, with various barriers being cited as reasons. We recommend further efforts to develop effective interventions for promoting active commuting among HCWs.
Behind the scan: addressing the silent strain on medical radiation professionals' mental health.
Ku M, Cavanagh J, Bartram T … +1 more , Afshari L
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40335037 · Publisher ↗
Medical radiation science practitioners employed as radiation therapists, radiographers and nuclear medicine technologists are leaving the profession in droves. Many of these practitioners are experiencing mental health...
Medical radiation science practitioners employed as radiation therapists, radiographers and nuclear medicine technologists are leaving the profession in droves. Many of these practitioners are experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues resulting from their work. Indications are that the sector is made up of an increasingly fragile workforce and the retention of these practitioners is at a critical juncture. The mental health and wellbeing of practitioners in this context is not well supported by senior management, line managers or human resource management (HRM). The retention of these practitioners is paramount, to maintain the diagnosis and treatment capabilities of an ever-increasing patient demand. As a way forward, HRM needs to recalibrate and develop a co-designed multi-level approach with all stakeholders to better support the mental health and wellbeing of these practitioners.
Where to for digital health? The Australian Council of Senior Academic Leaders in Digital Health action plan.
Woods L, Haines M, Arabi S … +7 more , Boyd J, Butler-Henderson K, Gray K, Gruen RL, Guinea S, Bennett C, Sullivan C
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40324769 · Publisher ↗
Australia's healthcare system faces major challenges related to sustainability, access and equity. Safe, effective care and growing demands require evidence-based innovation and a future-ready health workforce. Digital h...
Australia's healthcare system faces major challenges related to sustainability, access and equity. Safe, effective care and growing demands require evidence-based innovation and a future-ready health workforce. Digital health - the use of data and digital technology in health and health care - is yet to fully realise its promise. The Australian Council of Senior Academic Leaders in Digital Health (the 'Council') has been established to promote, foster and support academic collaboration that helps address Australia's key challenges and contribute to national and global health. This perspective provides an action plan in a crowded digital health landscape to improve the highlighted issues of effective innovation and a capable workforce. The Council has two key actions: (1) support research and innovation that advances digital health principles and practices by advocating for digital health research and development funding, strategic partnerships, communication, standard setting and adoption of research-informed digital health; and (2) enable system transformation through evidence-based education and training to produce future-fit healthcare workers by advancing health workforce education that embeds digital health capability standards and ongoing learning. True and transformative progress and continuous improvement in digital health require peer-reviewed evidence, as does any other area of health care. We need to acknowledge that our current workforce capabilities are no longer fit for purpose. Our workforce needs to be progressively 'retooled' to face the future of health care in a technological and data science revolution and in a sector that is slow to adapt to change. Implementing these actions will advance digital health research and education to positively impact Australia's healthcare system.
The Hospital Harmony program improves interdisciplinary healthcare team functioning and communication.
Kang MJY, Aung AK, Selzer R … +6 more , Linck A, Dias FF, Paul E, Tang JSN, Gibbs J, Gibbs H
Aust Health Rev · 2025 May · PMID 40324767 · Publisher ↗
Ojective Hospital wards, staffed by a multidisciplinary team, are complex environments where teamwork, communication and psychological safety are essential for coordinated care delivery, yet are faced with challenges suc...
Ojective Hospital wards, staffed by a multidisciplinary team, are complex environments where teamwork, communication and psychological safety are essential for coordinated care delivery, yet are faced with challenges such as staffing changes and complex care needs. There is little literature on interventions to assist staff to connect as a team. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Hospital Harmony program on team communication, psychological safety and overall team functioning in a multidisciplinary hospital ward. Methods The study was conducted at a major metropolitan academic health service involving a multidisciplinary general medicine team including nursing, medicine and allied health. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups, to evaluate Hospital Harmony, a 6-week brief daily group-based program designed to improve team function and mindfulness within the team. For our quantitative component, we used a questionnaire based on measures of team functioning: meeting effectiveness, psychological safety and individual focus. We used linear mixed models to assess the changes in each domain over time. A focus group was undertaken to obtain qualitative data that were thematically analysed. Results Fifty-one unique participants from the multidisciplinary team completed the survey (mean age of 33.5years (s.d. 11.0) and 72% female). Following commencement of the program, there was a significant increase in the team's perception of the meeting's effectiveness (P =0.004), team morale (P <0.0001), focus (P <0.0001) and psychological safety (P =0.014). The focus group identified four broad themes of relationship building, improved psychological safety, the impact of the program on the team's behaviour and mindful self-reflections. Conclusion We found that the Hospital Harmony program improved the multidisciplinary healthcare team by facilitating better communication, improving relationships and promoting psychological safety.
Use of artificial intelligence to generate emergency department discharge summaries.
Tang C, Mudunna N, Turner I … +3 more , Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Joe K, Brichko L
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Apr · PMID 40288886 · Publisher ↗
Objective This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of utilising an artificial intelligence (AI) model to generate emergency department (ED) discharge summaries in an easily accessible format. Methods This single-cen...
Objective This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of utilising an artificial intelligence (AI) model to generate emergency department (ED) discharge summaries in an easily accessible format. Methods This single-centre, proof-of-concept trial was conducted at a tertiary metropolitan private hospital. It involved 142 randomly selected patients who attended in 2023 and were able to be discharged home after care by a single ED doctor. A total of 284 documents were randomised, consisting of 142 de-identified ED medical notes and 142 AI-generated discharge summaries created by ChatGPT4 based on the corresponding ED medical notes. Both document types were distributed to six senior ED doctors, each of whom graded them individually and independently using a predetermined tool that assessed 17 items in four domains (expected contents, readability, medical accuracy, and internal consistency). The primary outcome was the graded score for the AI-generated discharge summaries, compared with that of the original ED medical notes. Results Across the 17 items and four domains assessed, AI-generated discharge summaries rated comparably to ED medical notes in 12 items (including key information, reason for the ED visit, past medical history, allergies and medications, social history, history of presenting complaint, investigations, differential diagnoses list, grammar, formatting, appropriateness, and consistency) and three domains (expected contents, readability, and internal consistency). AI-generated discharge summaries demonstrated high mean scores in the remaining five items (examination findings, primary diagnosis, detailed plan, language clarity, and reflectiveness of treatment) and one domain (medical accuracy). Conclusions AI-generated discharge summaries are potentially comparable to ED medical notes in most key performance domains of a discharge summary.
Analysis of public dental waiting lists in Queensland - 2015-2024.
Lalloo R
Aust Health Rev · 2025 Apr · PMID 40262971 · Publisher ↗
Objective Australians often wait a long time for public oral healthcare. This research analyses the numbers of people waiting for care, and numbers and percentage waiting beyond a desirable time for their clinical priori...
Objective Australians often wait a long time for public oral healthcare. This research analyses the numbers of people waiting for care, and numbers and percentage waiting beyond a desirable time for their clinical priority group, from 2015 to 2024, in Queensland. Methods Data are publicly available as part of the Queensland Government Open Data Portal. Data report the numbers of people waiting by time category, clinical priority group and Hospital and Health Service. Data for the end of September for each year from 2015 to 2024 were analysed. Results Across the 10-year period, there were always in excess of 100,000 people on the waiting list. In 2015 there were 116,046 people on the waiting list, peaking at 154,247 in 2020, and 150,485 in 2024. Of these, 80-90% are on the list for general care, desirable within 24months. Generally, across priority clinical groups the percentage waiting beyond the desirable time increased from 2015 to the pandemic period (2020-2021) and has since improved. For example, for Priority 1 (dental treatment desirable within 1month) the percentage waiting too long was 50% in 2015, which reached a peak of 80% in 2021 and decreased to 59% in 2024. Conclusion Reducing waiting list numbers for public oral healthcare is a challenge. In Queensland there are about 150,000 people on this waiting list, however, the majority are within the desirable wait time. This challenge is identified in numerous state and federal government documents, however, clear and feasible strategies appear to be lacking to reduce waiting list numbers and times.
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