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Better Health Services Through Research

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Each year around $2.6 billion is spent on the provision of health services to the NSW public.  We need a better evidence base on which to plan and evaluate these services.

In This Section

The Centre for Health Record Linkage

Population health data sets can provide valuable information to assist in the planning and evaluation of health programs and services. NSW has the richest collection of large population health datasets of all Australian states, but has only limited capacity to 'value-add' by linking these data to obtain information on patterns of and trends in treatment, costs and outcomes of disease over time.

Experience in Australia and oversees has shown substantial benefits of statistical data linkage systems in facilitating research and the provision of information for planning, monitoring and evaluation of health services and programmes. This in turn contributes to efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of populations.

In 2005, we commissioned Data Linkage Australia Partners to provide a report  on the feasibility, benefits and models for a data linkage facility in NSW. 

As a result of the report's recommendations, the Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHRL) was established in July 2006 as a new eight partner joint-venture with: ACT Health, NSW Health, the Cancer Institute NSW, the Sax Institute, the Clinical Excellence Commission, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of Newcastle.

CHRL will be a highly valuable asset for researchers and policy makers in NSW and the ACT.  It will transform routinely collected health information into a powerful resource so we get a more complete picture of the health of our population.  CHRL will enable timely and cost effective analyses of many questions about health services critical to policy, planning and evaluation. 

To view past Events, Presentations and Downloads with The Sax Institute and CHeReL please click here

 

Costing and Economic Analysis

The decision making capacity of policy and decision makers in the NSW health system could be greatly strengthened by better evidence to inform their health investment decisions.

The Sax Institute, NSW Health and the Cancer Institute NSW have agreed to fund a Costing for Health and Economic Evaluation Program (CHEEP).

CHERE was the successful tenderer and has been appointed to as the research organisation to conduct the Costing for Health and Economic Evaluation Program (CHEEP)

This new approach, involving a partnership between policy agencies, the Sax Institute and the research organisation (CHERE), has been designed to provide policy relevant evidence.

CHEEP will examine the costs and consequences of health interventions, services and systems; and build the skills and capacity needed to undertake the costing and economic analysis required by policy makers.

The specific research projects will be identified and agreed in meetings between CHERE and the policy agencies over coming months.

Hospital Alliance for Research Collaboration (HARC)

NSW Health has identified the quality and safety of health services in NSW as a research priority.

The Hospital Alliance for Research Collaboration is a state wide collaborative network committed to improving hospital services, and patients’ experiences of these services, through research. 

The Alliance is a partnership between the Sax Institute and the Clinical Excellence Commission and the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI). 

The Alliance consists of a network of hospitals, clinicians, area health services , policy makers and researchers  interested in improving hospital performance through research.

Interested in joining HARC? Please e-mail the  Director, HARC

To view past Events, Presentations and Downloads please click here

 

Further Information

If you want further information on any of the above programs, please e-mail The Sax Institute.

Related Information