Enhancing patient outcomes through evaluation of the appropriateness and quality use of pathology in general practice

The Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences was recently awarded a Commonwealth Department of Health Quality Use of Pathology Program grant of $522,824 for the project “Enhancing patient outcomes through evaluation of the appropriateness and quality use of pathology in general practice”.

The project, led by Professor Andrew Georgiou, will be conducted over 30 months in collaboration with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs, Outcome Health located in Victoria, and Victorian Primary Health Networks (PHN) and will:

• define characteristics and changes over time in patient/general practice/pathology laboratory interactions and services;
• identify key areas (e.g., chronic disease management) to monitor compliance with evidence-based guidelines relating to the appropriate and quality use of pathology in general practice, and measure what actually happens (e.g., the identification of variability using statistical process control methods);
• co-design and evaluate the effectiveness of Primary Health Network (PHN)-led quality improvement interventions (e.g., GP education, clinical decision support tools and electronic aids) aimed at enhancing the quality and evidence-based use of pathology.

Chief investigators include Professor Johanna Westbrook and Drs Ling Li and Lisa Pont from the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, together with Associate Professor Chris Pearce and Natalie Reinhart from Outcome Health.  The project is expected to make a major contribution to more effective use of pathology in general practice, based on best evidence-based practice leading to improvements in patient outcomes.

Media contact:  Professor Andrew Georgiou

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