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Healthcare Transformation

Healthcare Transformation

20+ RESEARCH PROGRAM MEMBERS

Our Healthcare Transformation Research Program is optimising healthcare experiences and outcomes for our communities.

Our team aims to reduce the time it takes for medical discoveries to make their way into clinical practice. By focusing on the big picture of healthcare, we are finding new ways to benefit from the latest research faster.

Quality health research takes time to be tested, trialled and fully developed before it can be translated into healthcare practice.

Healthcare today faces challenges. It’s a very complex system of services, which can sometimes become fragmented or lack coordination and integration between providers and settings. This can lead to gaps between the knowledge gained from medical research and the care that patients actually receive. This is known as the evidence-to-practice gap.

The gap between knowing and doing in healthcare practice is estimated to take around 17 years for research to be translated into practice.

HMRI Icons

17 YEARS

THE AVERAGE TIME IT TAKES RESEARCH TO BE TRANSLATED INTO PRACTICE

back pain

30-40%

OF PATIENTS ARE NOT RECEIVING HEALTHCARE BASED ON CURRENT EVIDENCE

death

20-25%

OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDED COULD BE UNNECESSARY OR POTENTIALLY HARMFUL

Helping medical research become translated into real-world care

Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Healthcare Transformation Research Program applies a whole-of-system approach to address these gaps in medical research and clinical practice. Rather than focusing on one disease or condition, our researchers take a transformative, people-centred, practice-based research approach.

Our research is targeted toward diverse healthcare needs across the lifespan and crosses jurisdictions, disciplines and geographic boundaries.

To be truly transformative, our approach is both transdisciplinary and translational.

Building capability and capacity within our healthcare workforce

Transforming healthcare requires a collective effort where every part of the system advances together. Impact in health comes from smarter information dissemination, stronger partnerships, and the ability to harness the full spectrum of expertise within our community. This holistic approach enables us to create new clinical, academic, and industry collaborations, which are essential for developing integrated models of care that are more efficient and effective than our current health services.

Our commitment to building capability and capacity within the healthcare workforce is driven by a deep understanding of the challenges faced by patients in our community.

Our research projects address the most pressing health needs in our communities, with a focus on key areas such as maternal and infant health, pain management, drug and alcohol use, mental health, and care for older adults. 

 

aged care

Care for older adults

Research program healthcare transformation counselling

Drug and alcohol use

Mothers and Babies

Maternal and infant health

healthy minds two people sitting talking scaled

Mental health

pain management

Pain management

These areas are critical not only because of their immediate impact on patient outcomes but also because they reflect broader societal challenges that require innovative and sustainable solutions.

All our research is informed by clinical practice insights, ensuring that the research we conduct is directly relevant to the needs of healthcare providers and the patients they serve. 

This clinician-driven approach means that our research is not only aligned with the priorities of the health service but is also grounded in real-world experience. As a result, our findings are far more likely to be implemented and translated into practice, leading to tangible improvements in patient care and outcomes.

We place great value on the diversity of knowledge and experience that comes from engaging with a broad range of stakeholders, including healthcare consumers, providers, service managers, academic researchers, and policymakers. By bringing these voices together, we are able to co-create innovative solutions that are rigorously tested for their efficacy and effectiveness.

Ultimately, our goal is to drive a healthcare transformation that benefits all our communities. Our work aims to build a more resilient healthcare workforce that is prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

Ultimately, our goal is to drive a healthcare transformation that benefits all our communities. Our work aims to build a more resilient healthcare workforce that is prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

World-first stroke recovery program builds more than just skills​

For people living with stroke, the opportunity to exercise, socialise, dance and make art not only helps rebuild speech, motor skills and fitness — it’s also a fun way to boost connections and confidence in a supported setting. The ESTEEM program is doing just that.

70+​

STROKE SURVIVORS HAVE PARTICIPATED ​

calendar

10​

WEEK PROGRAM

location

2

LOCATIONS ACROSS REGIONAL NSW

Bringing the best diabetes care to people in the bush

The Diabetes Alliance Program Plus (DAP+) is a proven diabetes care model helping improve the prevention, detection, treatment, and self-management of diabetes in rural and regional communities.

4000+

PATIENTS HELPED

800+

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE ROLLING OUT DAP+

96

PATIENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Empowering girls to be active and empowered

Daughters & Dads Active & Empowered is a world-first, evidence-based program that brings together fathers/father-figures & their primary school-aged daughters to promote physical activity, enhance sport skills, and boost wellbeing. 

3100+

PARTICIPATING DADS AND DAUGHTERS

380

EDUCATORS TRAINED

partnership

30

GOVERNMENT AND SPORTING PARTNERSHIPS

School exercise program boosts adolescent fitness and health 

Burn 2 Learn is a world first school-based physical activity HIIT program, improving fitness, wellbeing and enhancing academic achievement of high school students. 

18,000+

PARTICIPATING STUDENTS

325

TEACHERS TRAINED

location

218

SCHOOLS

Optimising post-surgery care to prevent clots

The IMPOSTERS trial is revolutionising post-surgery care and patient comfort. Additionally, the clinical trial is also identifing cost-savings opportunities that will improve environmental  sustainability by minimising single-use devices.

550+

patients participated in the trial

hospital

3

participating hospitals

$850K

awarded to support the research project

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