Evaluation Of Multidisciplinary Care Plans For Patients With Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,500.00
Summary
Care planning for patients with chronic illnesses and complex needs is a major part of the Commonwealth Enhanced Primary Care package. This initiative, announced in late 1999, provides access to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items to remunerate general practitioners, involved in developing multidisciplinary care plans in cooperation with other health care providers. An issue of importance, and the one that this project investigates, is whether disease specific care is addressed in care plans ....Care planning for patients with chronic illnesses and complex needs is a major part of the Commonwealth Enhanced Primary Care package. This initiative, announced in late 1999, provides access to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items to remunerate general practitioners, involved in developing multidisciplinary care plans in cooperation with other health care providers. An issue of importance, and the one that this project investigates, is whether disease specific care is addressed in care plans and whether the care planning process is associated with improved provision and outcomes of care for a specific chronic illness. The chronic illness that has been chosen for this research project is diabetes because of its prevalence in the community, importance in general practice and because there are accepted standards of process and outcomes of care against which diabetes care contained in EPC care plans can be bench marked. Diabetes is estimated to affect 7.5% of the adult Australian population with more than 85% of those affected having type 2 or mature onset diabetes. Increasingly care of type 2 diabetes is provided in primary care under share care arrangements with specialist diabetes services and in a multidisciplinary team approach involving the patient and their carer as well as relevant health professionals. A recent review has shown that there is a lack of evidence on whether multidisciplinary care is associated with improved process and outcomes of diabetes care. The project will involve 50 general practitioners and 200 of their patients with diabetes in South West Sydney. The design of the project involves audit of the care plans to examine the extent and quality of the diabetes care contained in comparison to accepted benchmarks. The project will also audit the patients' medical records for the year of care before and after the care plan. This care will be compared to published guidelines for process of care and goals for outcomes.Read moreRead less
Falls Prevention For Stroke Patients Following Discharge Home: Contributory Factors And A Randomised Trial Intervention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,440.00
Summary
Falls are common after stroke, with over 50% of people being discharged home from hospital after stroke experiencing one or more falls in the subsequent six months. Despite a large focus on falls prevention in the community generally, and increasing research that a range of activities (such as exercise, medication review, home hazard modification) are effective in reducing falls among older people generally, there have been no randomised trials evaluating the effectiveness of falls prevention ac ....Falls are common after stroke, with over 50% of people being discharged home from hospital after stroke experiencing one or more falls in the subsequent six months. Despite a large focus on falls prevention in the community generally, and increasing research that a range of activities (such as exercise, medication review, home hazard modification) are effective in reducing falls among older people generally, there have been no randomised trials evaluating the effectiveness of falls prevention activities for people with stroke. This research will evaluate whether a detailed assessment and program of falls prevention activities (exercise, falls prevention information, bone strength recommendations, and other activities based on the assessment findings) will reduce falls in stroke patients with increased risk of falling. Two additional issues associated with falls among people with stroke will also be investigated. Detailed analysis of walking and stepping over obstacles will be evaluated to determine long term problems which might increase the risk of falling, and the effect of the falls prevention program will also be evaluated on the walking and stepping over the obstacle tasks. A third study will investigate the development of fear of falling firstly as a result of the stroke and resultant walking difficulties, and then how this changes when a fall occurs. The interaction between falls, fear of falling, and reduced activity and walking will be explored. The outcomes of this project will improve the understanding by health professionals of key factors contributing to increased risk of falling following stroke, and provide clear direction and resources for general application of the program in other stroke rehabilitation programs nationally. The main anticipated outcome is 33% reduction in falls, and improved balance, walking, and confidence for people returning home after stroke.Read moreRead less
High-order conservative multiscale computation of elliptic problems in composite materials and porous media. The proposed technology will improve the design and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving heterogeneous media, from composite materials to water filtration and recycling. Our researchers in computational mechanics will gain further opportunities to extend the advances this project will make.
Direct simulation of composite microstructures in fluid and elastic media. The proposed innovative computational methodology will improve the design and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving particulate inclusions, from engineering to biological applications. The resultant technology will make a contribution to maintain and enhance Australia's role in the development of advanced engineering materials through manipulating their composite microstructures. The ....Direct simulation of composite microstructures in fluid and elastic media. The proposed innovative computational methodology will improve the design and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving particulate inclusions, from engineering to biological applications. The resultant technology will make a contribution to maintain and enhance Australia's role in the development of advanced engineering materials through manipulating their composite microstructures. The proposed computational method will also lead to new opportunities for Australian companies that develop computer simulation software. Our researchers in computational mechanics will gain further opportunities to extend the advances this project will make.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560716
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$864,610.00
Summary
A National T-ray Facility. T-rays are between microwaves and infrared on the electromagnetic spectrum. Recently, advances in femtosecond lasers enabled access to T-ray frequencies, producing an important new imaging modality for non-invasive sensing of materials and structures. Internationally, T-rays represent a rich new science leading to advanced forms of biophotonics, biomedical imaging and spectroscopy. Non-invasive T-ray diagnostics of nano- and bio-materials are being hotly pursued. The o ....A National T-ray Facility. T-rays are between microwaves and infrared on the electromagnetic spectrum. Recently, advances in femtosecond lasers enabled access to T-ray frequencies, producing an important new imaging modality for non-invasive sensing of materials and structures. Internationally, T-rays represent a rich new science leading to advanced forms of biophotonics, biomedical imaging and spectroscopy. Non-invasive T-ray diagnostics of nano- and bio-materials are being hotly pursued. The outcome will be a strategically important Australian T-ray facility that will provide immediate and transparent nationwide access. Historically, industry is transformed every time a new part of the electromagnetic spectrum becomes accessible - T-rays are the next frontier.Read moreRead less
Information Fusion in Autonomous systems. The aim of this fellowship is to explore and develop a family of powerful new Bayesian representations of sensory information and to demonstrate their application in perception and navigation of advanced robotic systems. These representations have the potential to revolutionize the field of intelligent autonomous systems and realize a whole new level of capapbilites and applications for advanced robotics in complex and unstructured environments such as s ....Information Fusion in Autonomous systems. The aim of this fellowship is to explore and develop a family of powerful new Bayesian representations of sensory information and to demonstrate their application in perception and navigation of advanced robotic systems. These representations have the potential to revolutionize the field of intelligent autonomous systems and realize a whole new level of capapbilites and applications for advanced robotics in complex and unstructured environments such as sub-sea exploration, mining, fire fighting and defence.Read moreRead less
Data Fusion and Perception in Autonomous Networks. Australia has developed a leading international position in robotics driven by strong national needs in field applications such as mining and agriculture. The proposed research will significantly strengthen and extend this lead by enabling the design and development of a new generation of robotic systems able to work cooperatively in the most challenging applications. The project will realise a new level of capabilities for advanced robotics in ....Data Fusion and Perception in Autonomous Networks. Australia has developed a leading international position in robotics driven by strong national needs in field applications such as mining and agriculture. The proposed research will significantly strengthen and extend this lead by enabling the design and development of a new generation of robotic systems able to work cooperatively in the most challenging applications. The project will realise a new level of capabilities for advanced robotics in applications such as integrated autonomous mining systems, environment monitoring, and networked security and defence systems. The fellowship will build new research capacity by developing and applying new knowledge in allied fields of large-scale sensor networks, environment and resource management.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100220
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,000.00
Summary
Adaptive Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography for Multiphase Flows. This project aims to establish a cutting edge adaptive electrical capacitance volume tomography facility for real-time metering / imaging of multi-phase flows. Optimisation of these flows which are encountered in many industries, is paramount in today's carbon-constrained global economy. This project expects to generate the new knowledge necessary for such optimisations. Expected outcomes include enhanced national capability ....Adaptive Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography for Multiphase Flows. This project aims to establish a cutting edge adaptive electrical capacitance volume tomography facility for real-time metering / imaging of multi-phase flows. Optimisation of these flows which are encountered in many industries, is paramount in today's carbon-constrained global economy. This project expects to generate the new knowledge necessary for such optimisations. Expected outcomes include enhanced national capability for characterisation of multi-phase flows in real-time under both ambient and high temperatures. This should benefit and greatly facilitate the commercial rollout of novel technologies in industrial sectors as diverse as mineral processing, clean energy, fuels/chemicals, oil/gas, food and environmental remediation. Read moreRead less
Surface tension-confined microfluidics: moving towards a flexible platform for diagnostics. The point-of-care industry is poised to fulfil the international need for effective and mobile diagnostics tools; however current strategies are restricting this from becoming a reality. Surface tension-confined microfluidics provide an opportunity to meet the requirements necessary for flexible platform for point-of-care devices.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354703
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Robotics Research Network (RRN). The RRN brings together all the best robotics research groups in Australia with the aim of fostering and coordinating cooperative research. The RRN integrates researchers from fields including machine perception, sensing, control, artificial intelligence and mechatronics. The RRN includes representation from twelve Universities, CSIRO and involvement of four ARC Centres. Programmes are proposed to share research facilities, to support training of research personn ....Robotics Research Network (RRN). The RRN brings together all the best robotics research groups in Australia with the aim of fostering and coordinating cooperative research. The RRN integrates researchers from fields including machine perception, sensing, control, artificial intelligence and mechatronics. The RRN includes representation from twelve Universities, CSIRO and involvement of four ARC Centres. Programmes are proposed to share research facilities, to support training of research personnel and promote cooperation in international research programmes. Robotics is already having a substantial impact in industries such as mining and agriculture. Robotics will, in future, offer benefits in areas such as health care, building systems, and defence.Read moreRead less