The Emergency Medicine section of the Department of Surgery and Critical Care works closely with colleagues in the Department of Medicine (Christchurch) and the Emergency Department, Health New Zealand, Canterbury (Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha).
Collectively, these researchers combine as the Emergency Medicine and Nursing Research Group. Their research is supported by the Emergency Care Foundation, a charitable trust supporting research, innovation and education in Emergency Medicine.
Emergency Care Foundation website
Key research themes
Our key research themes include the following (not an exhaustive list).
Diagnostic decision-making
This theme enhances accuracy of diagnostic decision-making in the context of emergency medicine. A particularly strong component, of international and national significance, concerns accelerated diagnostic pathways for acute coronary syndrome.
Significant work has included decision-making regarding conditions such as: Atrial Fibrillation, Transient Ischaemic Attacks, Major Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Primary contacts:
Professor Martin Than
Department of Medicine (Christchurch) in collaboration with the Christchurch Heart Institute
Email martin.than@cdhb.health.nz
Professor John Pickering
Department of Medicine (Christchurch) in collaboration with the Christchurch Heart Institute
Dr Laura Joyce
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)
Emergency Nursing research
Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department appointed the first Emergency Nurse Researcher in New Zealand in 2001, initially with seed funding from the University of Otago and now with ongoing funding from Health New Zealand, Canterbury (Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha).
Research has been wide-ranging with particular strengths in research related to workplace violence, well-being and cultural safety.
Primary contact:
Dr Sandra Richardson
Emergency Department, Health New Zealand, Canterbury (Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha)
Email sandra.richardson@cdhb.health.nz
Implementation Science
This is an evolving area of research exploring the factors which contribute to the success of implementation of innovations or the ‘de-implementation’ of existing practices.
Key researcher:
Dr Laura Joyce
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)
Toxicology
Therapeutic (prescription/ over the counter) drugs in overdose and recreational drugs (existing and novel, in overdose or with unintended toxicity) are common emergency department presentations. In addition, research into the burden of alcohol presentations informs community decision-making about access to alcohol.
Primary contacts:
Dr Paul Gee
Emergency Department, Health New Zealand, Canterbury (Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha)
Email paul.gee@cdhb.health.nz
Dr Laura Joyce
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Christchurch)