Can E-Health Improve Access To Effective And Affordable Care For Musculoskeletal Conditions?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Many Australians with musculoskeletal pain cannot access effective, affordable care (eg. advice & exercise) due to long waiting times for physiotherapy in public hospitals & lack of access in rural areas. The consequence is worse symptoms that are difficult to treat & require costly, ongoing care. This project will evaluate two eHealth-based models of care to reduce waiting times & improve access to effective care. The results could benefit millions of people worldwide with musculoskeletal pain.
There is strong evidence of an increased falls risk associated with cataract, a primary cause of vision impairment in older Australians. This research will determine factors contributing to increases in falls risk in people aged 70 years and older with cataract before surgery, between first and second eye surgery, and after second eye surgery. The findings can inform the optimal management of older people with cataract and limit negative health impacts of cataract-related injury and falls.
Improving Access For Community Health And Sub-acute Outpatient Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$644,791.00
Summary
Many patients face long waits for access to outpatient and community health services. Waiting lists with triage systems to allocate priority are commonly used to manage demand, but these systems often contribute to inefficiencies in service delivery. This project will trial implementation of an alternative approach using immediate allocation of new patients to triage appointments in a range of ambulatory services within a metropolitan health service.