INCREASING THE ED RESEARCH FOOTPRINT
Health Careers: Advice from an Emergency Physician in Research
Associate Professor Viet Tran, Emergency Physician, Royal Hobart Hospital
Filmed Hobart, Tasmania | September 2024
Associate Professor Viet Tran, an experienced emergency physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital. He spoke with Australian Health Journal about the crucial role of emergency departments as the frontline of hospitals, providing immediate care, diagnosis, resuscitation, and serving as a safety net for the healthcare system. Prof. Tran highlights the importance of understanding the daily responsibilities and core aspects of a specialty when choosing a medical career.
Recognising the relatively young status of emergency medicine as a specialty, Prof. Tran has taken on leadership roles to advance research in this field. In 2019, he became the Director of Emergency Medicine Research with the Tasmanian Department of Health, aiming to enhance the research footprint and collaboration within the specialty. His efforts have led to collaborations with national networks such as the PREDICT network and the National COVID research for ED, ultimately contributing to the development of emergency medicine research infrastructure in Tasmania.
Currently, Prof. Tran is leading a major MRFF study focusing on implementing clinical pathways in Tasmania to expedite the translation of research findings into improved patient care. This specific focus on this initiative is to minimise variations in patient care and address health inequities in rural and regional emergency department settings.
Associate Professor Viet Tran’s roles;
- Deputy Director of Emergency Medicine at Royal Hobart Hospital
- Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Tasmania,
- Founding Director, Tasmanian Emergency Medicine Research Institute
- Chair of the Tasmanian Emergency Departments Network
- Board Member, Emergency Medicine Foundation
- Co-Chair of the Tasmanian Health Senate
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Updated handbook on chronic kidney disease management in primary care
Kidney Health Australia’s latest kidney disease guide for primary care practitioners is expected to be pivotal in slowing down the rates of kidney failure, which have doubled in the past 20 years and if left unchecked will grow by a further 42% by 2030, according to the health charity.
With specific reference to new kidney treatments and culturally safe kidney care for First Nations Australians, the 5th edition of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in Primary Care handbook, known as the ‘kidney bible’, is a significant step-up in enabling earlier diagnosis of kidney disease for GPs and other front-line healthcare professionals.
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Bridging the orthodontic knowledge gap
In recent years, the orthodontic sector has been growing rapidly due to success in B2C marketing and companies like Invisalign reaching the consumer, but there has also been a lack of knowledge sharing among general dental practitioners and specialists.
General dentists require mentorship and guidance from orthodontists to feel confident in providing orthodontic treatment to their patients, ultimately improving the quality of care in the community.
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Australia’s Nursing Crisis Snapshot
“Nursing, already under pressure, is reaching breaking point due to the pressures of COVID-19 and a disjointed healthcare system, including the acute, primary and aged care sectors”, says Kylie Ward, Australian College of Nursing CEO adding, “We must act now to protect our nurses and healthcare; the time has come for a national reckoning on nursing in Australia.”
Australian nurses cannot continue to work under the extreme pressure they are currently operating under – the impacts are mounting.
The almost 400,000 Australian nurses are a constant presence in every one of our major life milestones, national emergencies and global crises. The nurse of today holds a science degree, possesses highly technical training, valuable medical opinions, front-row expertise, is an effective trainer, and is skilled in population and systemic thinking. But the pandemic is inflicting a major emotional and physical toll on nurses.
In this “Perspectives” special, Australian Health Journal spoke with 4 nurses on the challenges they or nurses in their circle have experienced, the key issues as well some of the opportunities. These nurses come from national leadership & policy, large scale workforce management, a final year student completing over a year on placement across 6 Melbourne Hospitals and a NSW based ICU nurse stranded in Mexico, unable to return to a critical role in nursing to an already strained team due to incoming quotas.
While the issues are challenging, there are strategies that can be put into place to ease the pressure, to support nurses, and nursing care in Australia. These are discussed by the the 4 nurses.
– Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN CEO, Australian College of Nursing
– Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary FACN ACN Chair of Workforce Sustainability Policy Chapter & Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Metro North Health
– Natalie Reyes, NSW based ICU Nurse Currently stranded in Mexico
– Hayley Pollock, Final Year Bachelor of Nursing Student & ACN Emerging Nurse Leader
