A Curtin University and WA Country Health Service Alliance-led research project to improve healthcare outcomes for rural and remote communities in Western Australia has been awarded more than $3.6 million in funding from the Federal Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
The collaborative project, conceived by the Western Australian Rural Research and Innovation Alliance (WARRIA) – a new NHMRC recognised Emerging Research Translation Centre focused on health systems in regional, rural and remote WA – will develop the Rural and Remote Health Outcomes Monitoring Platform (RHOMP), to enhance delivery of services by providing timely data to healthcare providers.
The initiative, led by epidemiologist Dr Sharmani Barnard from Curtin's School of Population Health, will integrate de-identified data from multiple sources, including primary care, hospitals, aeromedical and ambulance services, into a centralised platform.
"People living in rural and remote areas often experience poorer health outcomes compared to those in metropolitan regions partly due to reduced access to primary and specialist care," Dr Barnard said.
"RHOMP will give healthcare providers and policymakers better insights into patient pathways, helping them allocate resources more effectively, prevent unnecessary patient transfers, and improve care options closer to home."
Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research John Curtin Distinguished Professor Melinda Fitzgerald congratulated the team on being awarded funding support from the Federal Government through the MRFF.
"This significant investment will enable our researchers to work closely with healthcare providers to create a more comprehensive picture of healthcare needs in rural and remote regions," Professor Fitzgerald said.
"This project will translate research into improved health outcomes for Western Australians and exemplifies Curtin's commitment to making a difference through partnerships."
WA Country Health Service Chief Executive Jeff Moffet said the organisation was consistently harnessing new and emerging ways of supporting the healthcare needs of remote communities.
"Our remit is more than 2.55 million square kilometres and working in partnership with organisations like Curtin University means we are consistently finding new and improved ways of connecting even our most remote communities to worldclass healthcare," Mr Moffet said.
"The collaborative project provides a digital platform for WA Country Health Service and our service partners to present insights into patient care pathways and clinical outcomes.
"Importantly, it will support the provision of frontline care in hospitals and health services throughout country WA - allowing us to drive improvements across patient transfers."
The system will include two main tools: RHOMP Interactive, designed for healthcare providers and policymakers to monitor patient care pathways and track clinical outcomes, and the RHOMP Research Environment, to foster research aimed at further improving rural healthcare.
Key partners include the WA Country Health Service, St John WA, the Royal Flying Doctor Service WA, Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service and WA Primary Health Alliance.
Further information on the MRFF is available from the Department of Health and Aged Care.
