Full house at the CICC Research Symposium Nov 14th 2019
Thank you to all the speakers and attendees at the inaugural CICC Research Symposium on November 14th.
We managed to fit 12 speakers into a busy morning demonstrating the impressive depth and breadth of critical care research expertise across University-affiliated hospitals. Professor Braitberg provided the following summary:
Professor John Prins described the medical school as the “glue” of the precinct bringing together the University, research institutes and health services, supporting cross disciplinary collaboration and networks. The school should prepare students to answer the tough questions in healthcare including the importance of patient flow and value based medicine.
Prof David Story suggested that critical care should be seen as a series of overlapping disciplines, particularly ICU, anaesthesia and emergency medicine, but also incorporating themes of community and acute hospital care. Critical Care is not limited by physical locations but is a service that knows no boundaries.
Prof Rinaldo Bellomo described the rediscovery of Angiotensin 2 proving that “everything old is new again.” The challenge continues to be how to think differently as we continue to innovate and reinvent.
A/Prof Lis Evered highlighted the major health and societal challenges associated with cognitive decline and delirium. She reminded us that “frailty is more important than chronological age.”
Ms Ianthe Boden emphasised benefits of simplicity in study design and the importance of face to face communication to gain understanding between researcher and patient and improve patient outcomes. Her work also demonstrates the importance of multidisciplinary care, including nursing and allied health.
A/Prof Jonathan Knott, presented a novel model of care for patients with acute behavioural disturbances. When there is a “planned, systematic” approach to patient illness, teams are highly effective and excellent outcomes can be achieved.
Prof Franz Babl highlighted the need to collaborate across all age groups and reminded us “not to forget the kids.” He exemplified the power of networking and collaboration using the PREDICT model and introduced the importance of implementation science.
Dr Yasmine Ali Abdelhamid, in using diabetes as a marker, reminded us that critical care patients are often frail and have significant levels of healthcare utilisation with only 1/3 of patients who have complex medical problems alive and living independently after discharge from ICU.
Dr Jonathan Hiller showed us that new ideas for older medications, driven by investigator passion, may unlock secrets that can drive new research directions.
Professor Anne-Maree Kelly emphasised the importance of informal networks, mentoring and supporting centres who wish to participate in research but lack experience, resources or capacity, reminding us that CICC is ideally placed to provide this type of leadership.
Dr Julie Gunn shared extensive experience of patient centred outcome studies in neonatology and the ethical issues in providing care to this vulnerable group of patients.
Ms Jennifer Jones reminded us that we need to be more aware of our patient’s premorbid clinical and socioeconomic status and account for this when reporting outcomes: a “social gradient exists in critical care.”
We hope to see you all at a CICC event in 2020.