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RPA Green Light Institute for Emergency Care

The RPA Green Light Institute for Emergency Care was established at Sydney Local Health District in 2020 to facilitate and coordinate research to improve outcomes for emergency patients across Australia. These include trauma and resuscitation, care in vulnerable populations, mental health, patient flow and artificial intelligence.

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

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
Rebecca Richardson Research Clinical Nurse Consultant
Dr Kendall Bein Emergency Physician and Research Associate
Dr Matthew Oliver Emergency Physician and Research Associate
Dr Emily Symes Emergency Physician
Dr Jamie Burrows Emergency Physician
Dr Mahsa Kaikhosrovi  Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee
Dr Viola Korczak 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
$2,925,570 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.
$95,249 Attorney-General's Department, 2023-2025
How to Optimise the Usability of an Emergency Department Modern Slavery Screening Process
Investigator: Burrows J.
$2,985,952 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), 2023-2028
National Injury Surveillance for Actionable Research - ED (NISAR-ED)
Investigators: Sharwood L, Ivers R, Jorm L, Perez Concha O, Elliot J, Rebbeck T, Clay-Williams R, Shackel R, Cutler H, Dinh M, Hegarty K, Shand F, Bereki-Gisolf J, Swanston H, Bennett V.

Our Publications

2023

Curtis K, Dinh MM, Shetty A, Kourouche S, Fry M, Considine J, et al. The Emergency nurse Protocols Initiating Care-Sydney Triage to Admission Risk Tool (EPIC-START) trial: protocol for a stepped wedge implementation trial. Implement Sci Commun. 2023;4(1).
Curtis K, Fry M, Kourouche S, Kennedy B, Considine J, Alkhouri H, et al. Implementation evaluation of an evidence-based emergency nursing framework (HIRAID): Study protocol for a step-wedge randomised control trial. BMJ Open. 2023;13(1).
Davis R, Bein K, Burrows J, Chakar B, Berendsen Russell S, Hutchings O, et al. Clinical characteristics and predictors for hospitalisation during the initial phases of the Delta variant COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, Australia. EMA Emerg Med Australas. 2023;35(1):34-40.
Dinh M, Singh H, Deans C, Pople G, Sarrami P, Sisson G, et al. Evaluation of the New South Wales ambulance T1 major trauma transport protocol: A state-wide data linkage study. Injury. 2023.
Dinh MM, Bein KJ, Alkhouri H, Bhraonain SN, Seimon RV. 24 hours - Life in the ER: A state-wide data linkage analysis of in-patients with prolonged emergency department length of stay in New South Wales, Australia. Emerg Med Australas. 2023:6.
Hamdard K, Harris IA, Sarrami P, Shu CC, Brown J, Singh H, et al. Falls from ladders in New South Wales: A data-linkage study. Injury. 2023;54(2):442-7.
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. 2023;47(2):226-33.
Stephens AS, Dinh MM, Kinsman L. Patterns of emergency department use in rural and metropolitan New South Wales by socioeconomic status: A population-based study. EMA Emerg Med Australas. 2023;35(3):489-95.
Ting RS, Lewis DP, Yang KX, Nguyen TA, Sarrami P, Daniel L, et al. Incidence of multiple organ failure in adult polytrauma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2023;94(5):725-34.