​High-flow Oxygen for Bronchiolitis

Hunter New England Local Health District


Bronchiolitis is the most common lung infection in infants. Usual treatment involves management of respiratory distress and hypoxia. High-flow warm humidified oxygen (HFWHO) is increasingly used, but its efficacy and safety has not been demonstrated in rigorous trials. 

We examined whether HFWHO:
  • shortened time to weaning off oxygen
  • reduced treatment failure, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) transfers and length of stay
  • was acceptable to parents. 
A pragmatic randomised controlled trial was conducted with infants with moderate bronchiolitis. No significant difference was detected in time to weaning off oxygen. There was a significant difference in favour of HFWHO in number of treatment failures, and time to treatment failure, length of stay and ICU presentations, and strong parental acceptability. No oxygen-related adverse events occurred.

RTPlanQCSuite: A Software Enabling Automated Treatment Safety Checks for Radiotherapy Cancer Patients

South Western Sydney Local Health District


The aim of this project is to develop new software and processes to improve the efficiency of quality assurance checks required for the safe and accurate delivery of prescribed radiation treatment for each radiotherapy patient. RTPlanQCSuite (PlanChecker and AutoEPID) has been developed, tested, and clinically implemented by our multidisciplinary team. 

The systems were integrated into our routine workflow and have been used on over 3600 patients treated with advanced radiotherapy since 2014 and around fifteen new patients on a daily basis, not only saving thousands of hours spent on quality assurance but also ensuring patient safety and treatment quality.

​A Traffic Signal Framework to Capacity Assessment

Mid North Coast Local Health District


Unnecessary decision-making capacity assessment and guardianship applications can have detrimental effects on patients and health systems. The team aimed to determine the impact of capacity testing procedures on conducting capacity assessment and understand who requires capacity assessment and guardianship applications in hospital settings. 

After implementation of capacity testing, there were statistically significant increases in holding multi-disciplinary team meetings, documentation of decision-making capacity assessment processes and reduction in length of stay. Most patients who required guardianship application had no evidence of future care planning.

This study provides evidence of process gaps in capacity assessment, indicating clinical and demographic characteristics of those who need and don’t need capacity assessment and guardianship applications.
Current as at: Friday 7 September 2018
Contact page owner: Strategic Communications and Engagement