Research
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network is committed to reaching our vision of ‘Well people, resilient communities across the Murrumbidgee’. Research is a central enabler to achieving this vision, as it provides evidence to inform the core functions of the MPHN.
Research is critical to advise the coordination of local services and systems to improve the continuity of care, the commissioning of primary health services to meet population health needs and supporting capacity-building to ensure a sustainable primary healthcare workforce.
MPHN Research Vision
The MPHN research vision is ‘Leading research that enhances the health of our local communities’.
Our Research Process
MPHN Research Lead
Our research lead is Dr Jason Bennie (PhD) Chief Data Officer.
Jason has the following adjunct positions:
Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales.
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Health, School of Rural Medicine, Charles Sturt University.
Please contact Jason for any MPHN research-related enquiries - Jason.bennie@mphn.org.au
Current Projects
ASPIRE Medication Safety Trial
A systems approach to enhancing community-based medication review
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network and Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (WWBH) have partnered to deliver ASPIRE in our region with the aim of reducing medication-related harm at transitions of care.
The transition of care from hospital to home is widely recognised as a period of increased risk for medication-related harm. Older people or those taking high-risk or multiple medications (polypharmacy) are typically more vulnerable.
The ASPIRE (A systems approach to enhancing community-based medication review) Trial is a multi-centre study, sponsored by the University of Sydney, which investigates a PHN-based model of arranging timely medication reviews for people at high risk of medication-related harm when transitioning from hospital to home. Murrumbidgee is one of four trial sites across New South Wales and Queensland.
The trial, scheduled to run until 2025, will evaluate the implementation of a health service interventional program which aims to enhance both the uptake and the effectiveness of Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) for individuals post hospital stay. This targeted intervention aims to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions, improve quality of life and reduce medicines burden.
Murrumbidgee PHN in partnership with WWBH are planning to achieve this through:
implementing a Murrumbidgee PHN-based Medication Safety Hub with a Medication Safety Pharmacist who assists in the coordination of a timely medication management review
a hospital pharmacist at the WWBH, who identifies patients at high risk of medication-related harm and who are likely to benefit from a post-discharge medication review
strengthening communication channels between local hospital, primary care healthcare practitioners and PHN-based Medication Safety Pharmacist to improve medication safety and patient outcomes
multi-disciplinary PHN-led professional development activities on quality use of medicine topics for local healthcare practitioners
a communication strategy to raise awareness among local healthcare practitioners of the new role of the PHN in coordinating medication reviews and medication safety initiatives.
2: Strengthening care for rural children: stepped wedge trial in primary care
Research partnership with University of New South Wales School of Clinical Medicine & Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity,
More text to come
3: Charles Study University, School of Rural Medicine & School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Science.
More text to come