Health engagement and equity research

Understanding the way clinical care is delivered from both a clinician and consumer perspective is central to supporting effective and safe care delivery models, including to inform the design of new service models. Our research investigates the impacts of human performance and behaviour on the safety of care. Applying this knowledge, we design innovative approaches together with service users to improve models and processes of care and their safety.

Central to contemporary healthcare innovation is the introduction and adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) to promote safer care. Engaging clinicians and healthcare consumers in the design and development of such innovation is critical to ensure user-centric solutions that promote optimal outcomes, particularly in the content of populations with complex care needs.

Applying novel methodological techniques, the Centre has undertaken leading research to establish how workplace behaviour (e.g. interruptions, unprofessional behaviour and multitasking) can contribute to error, how to improve the safety of care for populations with complex care needs, and how to engage consumers and clinicians in the design and implementation of solutions. We apply a broad range of methods including direct observational methods, social network analysis, participatory methods including co-design as well as mixed- and multi-methods approaches.

Projects have included investigation of the impact of electronic health record systems on workflow and efficiency, how clinicians’ workplace behaviours contribute to the safety of care, and the development of patient engagement strategies that promote safety for culturally and linguistically diverse consumers in cancer services. This research covers broad discipline areas such as cognitive and organisational psychology, process engineering, communication processes, health informatics and operations research.

Stream team members

Professor Johanna Westbrook Professor and Director	Professor Reema Harrison Professor	Dr Bronwyn Newman Research Fellow
Dr Maryam Sina Research Fellow	Dr Ashfaq Chauhan Postdoctoral Research Fellow	Dr Ryan McMullan Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Ramya Walsan Postdoctoral Research Fellow	Corey Adams Clinical Research Officer	Dr Upma Chitkara Clinical Research Officer and MPhil Candidate
Mary Li Clinical Research Officer	Kim Elkovich PhD Candidate
Dr Gillian Janes Honorary Associate Professor	Dr Éidín Ní Shé Honorary Senior Research Fellow	Dr Ramesh Walpola Honorary Research Fellow
Dr Laurel Mimmo Honorary Postdoctoral Fellow