Infectious diseases account for around 2% of the total burden of disease in Australia, but nearly 7% of the healthcare costs (pre-COVID figures). Each year in Australian 180,000 patients suffer healthcare associated infections that prolong hospital stay and consume two million extra days in hospital.
The advent of COVID-19 has brought immense challenges to the healthcare system, but also remarkable reforms, with major changes such as the expansion of telehealth, the creation of COVID?19?specific clinical services within hospitals to name but a few.
What we do
AusHSI has a long and distinguished track record of infectious disease research, especially within acute care. AusHSI held the Centre of Research Excellence in Reducing Healthcare Associated Infection, and have partnered with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on projects to improve hospital safety and quality.
AusHSI’s skills in redesigning models of care can be used to optimise service delivery in areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. AusHSI can employ health economics and statistical modelling to better understand factors influencing patient outcomes, model system demands, and help inform disaster planning. This modelling work is incredibly valuable to problem-solving within an infectious disease pandemic.
