Health Services Research
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Care Plus is a multi-site implementation study that evaluates a standardised pathway to early palliative care for patients with advanced cancer.
It aims to improve access to early palliative care for these patients, their families and carers by addressing the known barriers to palliative care integration. Care Plus reduces variation in care delivery by ensuring it is available to everyone who reaches a given point at key defined, disease-specific times or ‘trigger’ points in their illness. Care Plus fosters the network of care relationships required to seamlessly address the complex care needs of people with cancer and their families.
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(STEP) Care Study
This study examines the impact of early palliative care introduced at key transition points for people with high-grade glioma.
Using transition points as an indicator for palliative care integration will reduce variation and improve equity of care.
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People experiencing health inequities
How do those in our community who have particular vulnerabilities fare when facing the end of life? This suite of studies examines palliative care provision for people experiencing a range of vulnerabilities including Indigenous Australians, prisoners, those who use illicit drugs, those with mental health disorders and the homeless. New and creative models of care are required for people experiencing vulnerability.
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TRIAGE RUN-PC Tool
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Palliative care service, a transparent, standardised and equitable system is required to make decisions about urgency. The RUN-PC tool was developed using mixed methods approaches and is now being implemented into practice across multiple sites of clinical care. RUN-PC offers a way of prioritising palliative care patients who present for care with complex and differing needs.
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Non-malignant disease
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We are conducting a range of studies examining models of care for people with advanced non-malignant illness - now focusing on advanced respiratory and chronic kidney disease.
New models of care embedded in chronic illness management approaches are being evaluated for their relevance, responsiveness and sustainability.
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Transitions to Palliative Care
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We are using mixed methods approaches to define objective transition points in an illness course which can be used as a prompt to integrate palliative care for people with serious illness.
Using transition points to standardize timing of palliative care integration will reduce variable and late referrals.
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