UNSW Professor Ian Harris and Conjoint Professor Jacqueline Close, based at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), have been awarded for their work to improve care for hip fracture patients.
Katrina Usman
NeuRA Media and Communications Officer
0432 760 940
k.usman@neura.edu.au
A web-based audit of hip fracture care and secondary fracture prevention has been recognised as an important contribution to health services research.
The Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry based at NeuRA is co-chaired by UNSW Professor Ian Harris and Conjoint Professor Jacqueline Close, who accepted the Health Services Award at the annual Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards last week.
The ANZ Hip Fracture Registry 2017 report last month highlighted the current care provided to older Australians and New Zealanders who break their hip.
The cost of treating hip fractures in Australia is estimated to be over $900 million per year; yet one in 20 older hip fracture patients will die before they leave hospital and more than half are still unable to walk after 12 months.
By collecting and analysing more than 12,000 records from patients in Australia and New Zealand the registry is helping develop strategies to prevent hip fractures and to improve the recovery of patients when they do happen. And it is making a difference, changing the treatment patients receive.
Professor Close said the award recognised the hard work of a team of so many people.
“More than 22,000 Australians and almost 4,000 New Zealanders break their hip every year, and working to prevent this happening and to improve recoveries is very rewarding," she said.
NeuRA Director and CEO, Professor Peter Schofield, was delighted to see research excellence at NeuRA honoured.
“The ANZ Hip Fracture Registry is a great example of how strengthening links between researchers and the health system can deliver better healthcare,” Professor Schofield said.