Implementation Science Academy Co-Leads in $2.7m Implementation Trial

The 12-month trial, involving NSW public hospital ICUs, will evaluate the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of scalable implementation strategies to reduce routine blood tests and scans.

Trial Chief Investigator and Academy co-lead, Dr Mitchell Sarkies, says one-in-three blood tests and imaging requests in Australian ICUs are potentially unnecessary.

“These routine diagnostic tests, often ordered on a fixed schedule rather than in response to clinical need, can lead to patient harm, increased costs, and misuse of clinician time,” said Dr Sarkies.

“They contribute to hospital-acquired anaemia, excessive radiation exposure, and unnecessary downstream interventions. Addressing low value diagnostic testing is critical to improving patient safety, health system efficiency, and sustainability.”

Fellow Implementation Science Academy Co-leads, Associate Professor Leanne Hassett and Associate Professor Heather Shepherd, are Chief Investigators on the grant. Sydney Health Partners Senior Advisor, Professor Andrew Baillie, and former Senior Advisor, Professor Andrew Milat, are Associate Investigators.

The $2.7 million trial is co-led by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, in collaboration with NSW Health Pathology, eHealth NSW, NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Behavioural Insights Unit, Clinical Excellence Commission, and NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centres Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE) and NSW Regional Health Partners.