A NSW Government website

On

RPA Green Light Institute for Emergency Care

The RPA Green Light Institute for Emergency Care was established at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 2020 as part of the Sydney Local Health District to facilitate and coordinate research for emergency department patients. These include various health care needs, from acute life-threatening conditions to ambulatory care.

Improvements in how this care is delivered require research, innovation and advocacy. For this, the RPA Green Light Institute brings together experienced and dedicated emergency clinicians from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Sydney Local Health District, affiliating with other research institutes and teaching hospitals within New South Wales and the University of Sydney. We are backed by the world-class research infrastructure at RPA Hospital, underpinned by the hospital’s ethos of research-led practice. This allows us to undertake collaborative research projects at an unparalleled scale in Australasia.

The Institute was established through a charitable donation from the Hearts and Minds Investment Group and is based at RPA Hospital.

Our Vision

To lead improvement in emergency care and patient outcomes through collaborative research and innovation.

Our Mission

To facilitate research that directly impacts and improves care for the many millions of patients treated in our emergency departments each year.

Our Objectives

The RPA Green Light Institute provides a hub for collaborative and translational research in emergency medicine, bringing together groups of experienced and dedicated emergency clinicians and nurses to provide a focal point for emergency research and collaboration with other research institutes.

The RPA Green Light Institute focuses on high-impact acute medical conditions with significant public health ramifications. These include trauma care, stroke, acute cardiac conditions, mental health and sepsis management. Together, they represent the most important causes of preventable death and disability around the world.

Two ambulances in waiting bays at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Emergency department.
SydneyConnect Image: RPA Hospital Emergency Department entrance

Emergency Research Grant Scheme

Our Institute is committed to supporting high quality Emergency Department research that improves emergency care across Australia. We are excited to announce a grants scheme to support emergency clinicians undertaking research in key priority areas, including emergency care in rural and regional areas, Aboriginal, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, domestic violence and mental health patient populations.

Project funding of $50,000 will be awarded to two projects commencing in 2024.

Entries have now closed for our 2024 scheme.

Our Research

Since its establishment in 2020, the Institute has spearheaded many high-impact research initiatives that directly impact patient outcomes. The Institute takes a highly collaborative approach, leading and facilitating research with other pioneering organisations and clinicians.

Our Research Team

Our team includes national leaders in emergency care, with exceptional experience in both clinical and research practice.

The Institute is comprised of emergency physicians, clinical nurse consultants, rotating emergency medicine registrars, students and a growing group of Sydney Local Health District emergency clinicians. Our advisory board, drawing on their extensive experience in emergency medicine, provides strategic guidance in the establishment and the long term direction of the Institute.

Professor Michael Dinh Director
Dr Radhika Seimon Senior Research Manager
Saartje Berendsen Russell Research Clinical Nurse Consultant
Naomi Derrick Research Clinical Nurse Consultant
Dr Kendall Bein Emergency Physician and Research Associate
Dr Matthew Oliver Emergency Physician and Research Associate
Dr Jon Hayman Emergency Medicine Training
Dr Bashir Chakar Emergency Physician
Dr Emily Symes Emergency Physician
Dr Nidhi Abraham Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee
Dr Jamie Burrows Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee
Dr Viola Korczak Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee
Dr Amber Shuja Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee

Selected Grants

Amount awarded Grant and project details
$1,498,877 NHMRC Partnership Projects Grant, 2021-2026
Improving the safety and quality of emergency nursing care
Investigators: Curtis K, Fry M, Considine J, Shaban R, Alkhouri H, McPhail S, Dinh M, Aggar C, Hughes J, Murphy M
$2,847,592 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), 2022-2026
Giving patients an EPIC-START: An evidence based, data driven model of care to improve patient care and efficiency in emergency departments.
Investigators: Curtis K, Dinh M, Shetty A, Fry M, Shaw T, Lung T, Murphy M, Li L, Alkhouri H, Considine J, Kourouche S, Hughes J, Shaban R, Varndell W, Aggar C.

Our Publications

2022

Chiswell K, Bein K, Simpkins D, Latt M, Dinh M. Emergency department presentations and 30-day mortality in patients from residential aged care facilities. Aust Health Rev (2022) 46(4): 414-420. 
Sardaneh AA, Narayan S, Penm J, Oliver M, Gattas D, McLachlan A, Patanwala AE. Efficacy and safety of metaraminol in critically ill patients with shock: a systematic review. J Pharm Pract Res (2022), 52(2): 83-93. 
Cullen P, Leong RN, Liu B, Walker N, Steinbeck K, Ivers R, Dinh M. Returning to the Emergency Department: A retrospective analysis of mental health re-presentations among young people in New South Wales, Australia. BMJ Open (2022) 12(6):e057388. 
Davis R, Bein K, Burrows J, Chakar B, Berendsen Russell S, Hutchings O, Dearing C, Jagers D, Edwards J, Chalkley D, Shaw M, Mckenzie L, Goldmith H, Dinh M. Clinical characteristics and predictors for hospitalisation during the initial phases of the Delta variant COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, Australia. Emerg Med Australas (2022) 35(1):34-40.  
Korczak V, Yakubu K, Angell B, Middleton P, Dinh M, Lung T, Jan S. Understanding patient preferences for emergency care for lower triage acuity presentations during GP hours: a qualitative study in Australia. BMC Health Serv Res (2022) 22(1): 1442.
Korczak V, Liu H, Bein K, Lung T, Jan S, Dinh M. Emergency clinician perceptions of patients who present frequently to the emergency department: a snapshot of current practice. Aust Health Rev (2022).
Jones CMP, Lin CC, Jamshidi M, Shaheed CA, Maher CG, Harris IA, Patanwala AE, Dinh M, Mathieson S. Effectiveness of Opioid Analgesic Medicines Prescribed in or at Discharge From Emergency Departments for Musculoskeletal Pain. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med (2022) 175(11): 1572-1581.
Ferreira G, Lobo M, Richards B, Dinh M, Maher C. Hospital variation in admissions for low back pain following an emergency department presentation: a retrospective study. BMC Health Serv Res (2022) 22(1): 835.
Mitchell RJ, Harris IA, Balogh ZJ, Curtis K, Burns B, Seppelt I, Brown J, Sarrami P, Singh H, Levesque J, Dinh M. Determinants of long-term unplanned readmission and mortality following self-inflicted and non-self-inflicted major injury: a retrospective cohort study. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg (2022) 48(3): 2145-2156.
Curtis K, Kennedy B, Lam MK, Mitchell, RJ, Black D, Burns B, Dinh M, Holland AJA. Pathways and factors that influence time to definitive trauma care for injured children in New South Wales, Australia. Injury (2022) 53(1): 61-68.
Curtis K, Kennedy B, Lam MK, Mitchell, RJ, Black D, Jan s, Burns B, Dinh M, Holland AJA. Predictors of 12-month functional outcomes and length of stay of severely injured children in NSW, Australia. A longitudinal multi-centre study. Injury (2022) 53(5): 1684-1689.
Partyka C, Miller M, Johnson T, Burns B, Fogg T, Sarrami P, Singh H, Dee K, Dinh M. Prehospital activation of a coordinated multidisciplinary hospital response in preparation for patients with severe hemorrhage: A statewide data linkage study of the New South Wales “Code Crimson” pathway. J Trauma Acute Care Surg (2022) 93(4): 521-529.
Hung KKC, Kifley A, Brown K, Jagnoor J, Craig A, Gabbe B, Derrett S, Collie A, Dinh M, Gopinath B, Cameron ID, on behalf of the fish investigators. Psychological distress, pain and insurance claims negatively affect long-term health-related quality of life after road traffic injuries. J Rehabil Med (2022) 54: 30.