Research in Implementation Science and eHealth (RISe)
The Research in Implementation Science and eHealth (RISe) group is a unit that work at the nexus between practice, behaviour change and service improvement.
About us
Led by Professor of eHealth, Tim Shaw, RISe is at the forefront of the emerging fields of eHealth and implementation science and our primary research emphasis is on the impact of new technologies on clinician and consumer behaviour and outcomes. With a number of high profile grants and consultancies totally over $13M, we aspire to be recognised as a global leader in implementation science and eHealth. Tim Shaw is also Director of Research in the recently funded 7 year $112M Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). The CRC brings together academia, industry, government and service providers to transform care through technology.
Our research
RISe works closely with a wide range of organisations, both nationally and internationally, including government departments, health service providers, professional colleges and translational research centres.
RISe supports its mission of supporting the uptake of evidence-based care into practice by:
- Researching effective ways of implementing change in the health system
- Working with health systems to improve collection and impact of health data
- Developing novel and high impact educational solutions
- Providing consultancy and advice
- Building partnerships and networks across the sector.
Our people
Director
- Professor Tim Shaw
Key Affiliates
- Honorary Associate Professor Meredith Makeham
- Honorary Associate Professor Anne Miller
- Adjunct Associate Professor Cheryl McCullagh
Current projects
Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre (TCRC) flagship project on investigating how can knowledge derived from electronic health records (EHRs) can be utilised most effectively to improve the quality of cancer care.
This project proposes the empowerment and facilitation of clinicians interrogating the knowledge derived from EHR data. In the first phase of this project, we have established a data innovation lab at the Westmead Institute of Medical Research as a collaboration with the University of Sydney data science coalition and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. We are conducting a proof-of-concept in the use of software that integrates complex breast cancer data and generates graphical representations needed to support the analysis of the data.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Research Coordinator: Ms Candice Kielly-Carroll
Funding: Sydney West TCRC
Project timeline: 2016-2021
A Sydney Health Partners project exploring the feasibility and acceptability of using electronic health record (EHR) data for delivering personalised training to health professionals.
In the first phase of this project, we have established a Data Innovation Lab at the Westmead Institute of Medical Research as a collaboration with the University of Sydney Data Science Coalition and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. We are conducting a proof-of-concept in the use of software that integrates complex breast cancer data and generates graphical representations needed to support the analysis and understanding of the data.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Research Coordinator: Miss Anna Janssen
Funding: Sydney Health Partners
Project timeline: 2016-2021
Digital health and informatics have the potential to transform all aspects of healthcare and research. This includes how care is delivered and assessed, how health information is managed and what online tools and mobile devices are being used to improve health and wellbeing more efficiently.
The Digital Health & Informatics Network (DHIN) was created to bridge the gap in digital health and informatics. Our purpose is to improve efficiency, connect interests, promote collaboration in research, share current projects and resources in these areas, and stimulate purposeful networking via DHIN-hosted events and online engagement.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Project Coordinator: Jacqueline Wells
Project timeline: 2017-2020
A collaboration between the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Westmead and The University of Sydney.
The Sydney Children’s Hospitals, Westmead is implementing a patient communication portal that is integrated with the electronic health record (EHR). The portal includes functions such as text-based communication with clinicians, appointment scheduling and reminders, self-serve functions and, in future, education, results, summaries, care plans and family initiated content. The LeAP study is investigating the pilot of the patient portal to understand how it will impact on patients/carers and hospital staff.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw and Melanie Keep, Anna Janssen
Project timeline: 2017-2019
‘eHealth – More than just an electronic record’
The eHealth MOOC is a quality workforce development that has been acknowledged as a valuable resource in raising workforce capacity for integrating eHealth into practice. The MOOC has attracted significant interest from key stakeholders in workforce development, including Local Health Districts and State and Federal health agencies.
Following on from the success for the introductory eHealth MOOC, competitive funding has been secured from the University of Sydney to develop a ‘deep dive into health data’ MOOC that aligns with priority workforce learning needs.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Research Coordinator: Melissa Brunner
Funding: University of Sydney Strategic Education Grant
Project timeline: 2015 - ongoing
Past projects
The Australian Commission on safety and quality in healthcare has contracted RISe to identify elements of digitisation in healthcare that best improve the quality of patient care and existing approaches to self-assess, monitor and benchmark uptake of recommended digital initiatives.
The key components of this project are to:
i) Conduct a review and analyses of any grey literature surrounding programs and elements of digital health care.
ii) Conduct key informant interviews showcasing digital transformation by leading national and international organisations.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Research Coordinator: Ms Candice Kielly-Carroll
Senior Research Fellow: Dr. Monique Hines
Funding: The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Project timeline: 2017
An initiative of the Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre investigating the impact on an online program for increasing patient self-efficacy for managing their care.
The purpose of this study is to develop an online program to increase self-efficacy and enhancing help-seeking behaviour for advanced lung cancer patients in Western Sydney. The Qstream spaced learning platform will be used to deliver the online program.
The primary outcome being measured is the feasibility of using the Qstream program to deliver education to patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer in western Sydney. Secondary outcomes include evaluating the impact of the Qstream program on symptom identification and symptom management, as well as patient self-efficacy and help-seeking behaviour.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Research Coordinator: Miss Anna Janssen
Funding: Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre
Project timeline: 2015-2017
Since the project commenced in 2013, the Cancer Implementation Science Community of Practice has successfully developed and managed a community of practice delivering education and networking opportunities to our membership across the Translational Cancer Research Centres (TCRCs) of NSW. The project is bridging the gap between researchers in the translational pipeline with clinical patient care and service providers.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Other collaborators: Dr Nicole Rankin - Sydney Catalyst TCRC and The Cancer Council NSW, A/Professor Chris Paul - Hunter Cancer Research Alliance TCRC, Dr Ann Dadich - Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Professor Afaf Girgis - Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Professor Jane Phillips - Sydney Catalyst/TCRN and Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite - TCRN
Project Officer: Charlotte Pointeaux
Funding: Cancer Institute NSW
Project timeline: 2013-2017
RISe has been actively involved in the implementation and evaluation of Qstream programs for delivering health education. The group supports a number of exciting Qstream projects across a range of areas.
HETI Qstream Project This program is supported by MESF grant from HETI. It has been designed to deliver training to junior doctors across multiple hospital sites in Western Sydney. The program launched in June 2017.
Oncology Registrar Masterclass series (SWTCRC Project) The Qstream masterclass series is an educational initiative of the Sydney West Translational Cancer Research Centre. All programs in the masterclass series are developed to support registrars specialising in oncology across western Sydney.
A collaborative core curriculum and resource repository for eHealth readiness across health professional degrees.
This project involves curriculum mapping and core competency identification, to deliver a shared online eHealth curriculum that also acts as a springboard for the dissemination of high-quality multi-media re-usable learning and assessment resources drawn from the University’s eHealth Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). It aims to achieve vertical integration with workforce programs within Local Health Districts and more broadly, engagement with key stakeholders to support this.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tim Shaw
Project Officer: Ms. Dee Quinn
Funding: Education Innovation Grant (2016), DVC Education, University of Sydney
Project timeline: 2017
The Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC) is run on behalf of the NSW Ministry of Health. It was developed in 1999 and has been run continuously by The University of Sydney since this time.
RISe developed and manages this NSW pharmacotherapy accreditation training package on behalf of the NSW Ministry for Health. It currently utilises a unique model of online education which allows participants to transition from knowledge acquisition to demonstration of learning over the duration of the course.
Project Officer: Miss Anna Janssen
Funding: NSW Ministry of Health
Project timeline: 1999-2017