The NHMRC accredited Advanced Health Research Translation Centres (AHRTCs), which includes Monash Partners, are designed to facilitate strategic prioritised research based on the priorities of policy makers, health services, clinicians and the community.
In 2019, Minister Greg Hunt established wound care and pressure injuries as key priorities, based on a national report. The AHRTCs were asked to respond and in doing so recognised this was also a priority for health services. The research, translation and education program Monash Partners has developed in response is outlined below.
Pressure injuries (PI) are a common hospital acquired complication and significant cause of preventable harm and suffering in healthcare settings. In addition to the human cost, hospital acquired pressure injury carries a high health and economic burden (AUD$983 million per annum) making preventive measures vital.
Capacity building is fundamental to optimise surveillance and prevention.
To build capacity in this area, Monash Partners has recently established evidence-based training and resources for health professionals, accessible via our website.
Click HERE to access.
Our further focus in this area includes:
- Establishing a PI Surveillance and Prevention Steering Committee
- Linking with local, national and international wound care experts
- Engaging health service nursing leaders to identify priority areas for collaboration
- Research to improve the accuracy of PI detection and coding data in health services
- Research on PI prevention in COVID-19, where unique prone patient positioning is needed, and
- Hosting an online seminar series on PI prevention and research across our health service partners. Access a recording of the webinar HERE.
Through this work we hope to bring together and build upon existing efforts to create an integrated approach to wound management that will deliver improved patient outcomes based on evidence and reduce the economic burden of care.
Stay safe,
Professor Helena Teede AM
