By: Allison Currie
At Nova Scotia Health, our commitment to collaboration with partners, healthcare professionals, researchers and academics is driven by one overarching goal: to deliver and continually improve high-quality patient care for Nova Scotians.
One important driver of this goal is the groundbreaking work being done by researchers in the field of healthcare across the province, and the emergency medicine research team at the Queen Elizabeth II (QEll) Health Sciences Centre emergency department is no exception. Although it may not be obvious during a visit to the emergency department, the team is playing an integral role in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.
Emergency medicine research spans diverse topics, addressing a wide array of conditions that would bring patients into emergency care. Despite this diversity, the team's research is always guided by one goal: optimizing and improving patient care. The emergency medicine research team may be involved in several active research projects at any given time, with more awaiting approval. These projects can range from testing new medications and/or procedures, through the maintenance of databases and retrospective chart reviews that identify patterns between diagnoses and outcomes, aiming to predict patient outcomes based on historical data, and adjust practice as indicated.
The team at the QEII is small but powerful. Led by Dr. Samuel Campbell, Research Director, and Megi Nallbani, Research Manager, the team includes a research coordinator, Breanna Thorne, along with several research assistants and volunteers. Each member has made significant contributions to the success, with the team supporting the principal investigators and engaging with the emergency department.
While emergency physicians have traditionally been at the forefront of emergency medicine research, the field has expanded to include support for new researchers, such as paramedics and nurses. In this way, they get to develop research as part of their careers while also increasing collaborative research between different disciplines and caregivers. Dalhousie ‘Research in Medicine’ students and physician’s assistants are also strongly encouraged to get involved in emergency medicine research. In 2023, the Raymond L. Roberts Emergency Medicine Young Researcher's Grant was established in partnership with the QEII Foundation to stimulate research in emergency medicine by new researchers, develop research programs and enhance patient care.
“With emergency care requiring choreography of numerous team members from both inside and outside of the emergency department, it is important that emergency medicine research includes the participation of members from different disciplines and professions”, says Dr. Campbell. “Furthermore, the unscheduled nature of the emergency department visit makes conducting emergency medicine research akin to working on an engine while it is still running!”
One example of the team's work is a current research project in collaboration with the departments of radiology and urology. The project aims to reduce radiation doses during diagnostic imaging while maintaining image quality for accurate diagnoses. Collaborative research efforts extend to include pediatric emergency medicine researchers at the IWK, Emergency Health Services, emergency departments across the country, and international networks such as the International Federation of Emergency Medicine.
The work being done by this team is an example of the continuous quality improvement within Nova Scotia Health. As healthcare needs evolve with new technologies, changing demographics and emerging diseases, the team strives to remain at the forefront of advancements in emergency medicine. This commitment helps to ensure that Nova Scotia leads in medical innovation and patient care excellence while also contributing to the global medical community.
Research is care, and clinical studies help translate research into potentially life-changing therapies that can help you, your friends and your loved ones. Want to know more about how to get involved? Visit Nova Studies Connect today: novastudiesconnect.ca
