Alternate models of care for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Services, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Current models of care for the ENT service at the Eye and Ear Hospital are under significant pressure with long waiting lists for new patients, and review activity consuming clinic capacity.

My project aims to investigate alternative ways to deliver care within the service by increasing the involvement of the highly skilled allied health and nursing workforce to address these challenges. This includes points along the pathway where it may be appropriate for non-medical staff involvement, freeing the medical workforce to work at the top of their scope and focus on medical and surgical priorities.

Audiology and nursing staff are well equipped to facilitate triage into the service to collect diagnostic information or undertake routine pre- and post- operative checks. By implementing these changes, we anticipate increased clinic throughput, thereby improving access to services and providing a better patient experience.

The MacHSR Fellowship will provide dedicated resources to support this important innovation project. I am looking forward to developing my Health Service Research skills and collaborating with the Fellowship cohort and learning from our mentors.