Our research
  1. Macquarie University
  2. Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences
  3. Departments and schools
  4. Australian Institute of Health Innovation
  5. Our research centres
  6. Health Systems and Safety Research
  7. Our research
Centre Director – Professor Johanna Westbrook Explore CHSSR’s research outputs Our research team works across discipline areas and sectors Read more about Work Observation Method By Activity Timing

Turning research evidence into policy and practice

Our research at the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research (CHSSR) focuses on the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on healthcare delivery, health professionals’ work and patient outcomes.

We design and test innovative tools and apply rigorous approaches to understand the complex nature of health care delivery systems. We also disseminate evidence to inform policy, system design and practice change.

Read more about our five key research streams and projects.

Aged care evaluation and research (ACER)

Older people receiving aged care services face widespread quality and safety issues due to the greater vulnerability and the rising healthcare needs of this growing population. ACER comprises a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of researchers conducting world-class research relevant to residential and community aged care settings.

The goal of ACER is to generate high-quality evidence through applied and translational research to improve health and service delivery outcomes in both residential and community aged care settings. Our researchers apply novel quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and sophisticated analytical approaches with a strong connection to consumer involvement to achieve this goal.

Stream leader: Dr Nasir Wabe

Team members

Diagnostic informatics

Diagnostic informatics relates to the systematic gathering, integration, interpretation and communication of data to support clinical decision-making and enhance patient outcomes.

Diagnostic testing plays a critical role in medicine and has significant influence on medical decision-making. It underpins much of our health care system, generating essential information that supports the prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, risk stratification and treatment of disease.

Our team’s research spans the entire diagnostic process, focusing on key areas that influence patient care, including:

  • the clinical decision to request a diagnostic test
  • the quality, efficiency and safety of the analytical process
  • the interpretation and follow-up of test results.

Stream leader: Dr Mirela Prgomet

Team members

Health analytics and patient safety

Information and communication technologies play a significant role in improving the efficiency, effectiveness and safety of the health system. These technologies generate huge volumes of dynamic data from electronic health record systems. Health data analytics provides insights into these rich data.

We aim to improve health care through data analytics. Our main focuses are:

  • developing and applying rigorous, cutting-edge research methods to evaluate the impact of eHealth interventions on patient safety and outcomes
  • utilising rich dynamic electronic health record data to improve patient care delivery
  • providing real-time information that can support decisions and deliver actionable insights.

Stream leader: Professor Ling Li

Team members

Healthcare engagement and equity research

Inequitable healthcare quality contributes to the poorer health outcomes experienced by priority populations in Australia. By taking a community-engaged approach to conceptualising and designing research, we create projects that address community research priorities.

Together, using participatory methods of co-design and co-production, we develop and evaluate new models, measures and innovations in health services that improve care.

Our project governance structures ensure that people with lived experience of health conditions and services have a central role in guiding the research conduct across the project lifecycle and enable its future use.

Stream leader: Professor Reema Harrison

Team members

Medication safety and electronic decision support

Medication error and inappropriate medication therapy are two of the oldest, most costly and least tractable safety problems which health systems face.

Information technology has the potential to make medication management safer and more effective. With that expectation, health systems worldwide are making vast investments in information technology.

Our research is investigating the ways in which information technology can reduce medication errors and support improved medication therapy decisions and outcomes in hospital and residential aged care facilities.

Stream leader: Associate Professor Magda Raban

Team members