Emergency Medicine Foundation

Emergency Medicine Foundation Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) is a non-profit agency for advancing emergency medicine research

Emergency Medicine Foundation: finding better ways to save lives

The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) was established to build upon the success of the Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation. QEMRF was established in 2007 with an investment of $5 million from the Queensland Government through Queensland Health. To date QEMRF has committed over $8 million into over 70 emergency medici

ne research projects in Queensland public hospital Emergency Departments. The outcomes of QEMRF funded research is attracting international attention that has the opportunity to positively impact on emergency medicine outcomes throughout the world. Our new foundation, EMF, will continue to raise funds to address an under investment in emergency medicine research across the sector nationally and internationally. The Emergency Medicine Foundation is focused on continuing the tradition of identifying the highest quality clinical research projects that will translate into improved practice, better patient experience, as well as delivering significant economic benefits to our healthcare systems. EMF intends to extend and capitalize on our successful grant administration and research selection systems by securing further government, philanthropic and corporate funding. We will offer research grants across the broader emergency medicine sector throughout Australia and beyond. EMF will support practical research projects engaging healthcare professionals, including emergency physicians and nurses, ambulance, fire-fighting and emergency retrieval professionals and many more. Please view our social media policy at www.emergencymedicinefoundation.org.au/terms-conditions/website-social-media-electronic-newsletters-terms-conditions-use/

Could contactless technology help monitor patients in busy ED waiting rooms? 📷 New EMF-funded research from Townsville U...
02/09/2026

Could contactless technology help monitor patients in busy ED waiting rooms? 📷

New EMF-funded research from Townsville University Hospital has explored whether camera-based technology could reliably measure vital signs after triage, with the potential to support patient monitoring while people wait for care.

The pilot study recruited 300 adult walk-in patients and compared contactless measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and temperature with standard monitoring.

🔎 The study found:

🔹 Camera-based monitoring showed good overall accuracy compared with standard measurements
🔹 Respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and temperature showed the closest agreement
🔹 Blood pressure and heart rate showed greater variability, indicating further refinement is needed before clinical use
🔹 Patient acceptability was high, with 79% rating the contactless monitoring process positively

The findings highlight the potential of contactless monitoring in emergency care, while showing that further refinement and research are needed before the technology is ready for clinical practice.

The study was led by Courtney West, with Dr Vinay Gangathimmaiah and colleagues.

📖 Publication: https://doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.70323

Authors: Courtney West, Hollis Hopkins, Samuel Teague, Danyi Wang, Titilayo Ogunwa, Javaan Chahl, Eloise Bletsas, Hayley Muller and Vinay Gangathimmaiah

Townsville Hospital and Health Service

📣Join EMF’s Finance, Risk and Audit CommitteeEMF is seeking an experienced professional to bring senior government, publ...
01/09/2026

📣Join EMF’s Finance, Risk and Audit Committee

EMF is seeking an experienced professional to bring senior government, public-sector health or strategic policy experience to our FRAC.

As Committee member Martin Heads highlights, strong governance plays an important role in ensuring EMF-funded research delivers sustainable impact for patients, clinicians and the health system.

This voluntary role is an opportunity to contribute strategic insight, independent judgement and constructive advice to support EMF’s governance and future direction.

📅 Expressions of interest close 18 September 2026.

📌 Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply: https://emergencyfoundation.org.au/news/join-emf-frac/

What did we learn from this year’s EMF & JTI Trauma Care Research Symposium?From emerging findings in retrieval and pre-...
27/08/2026

What did we learn from this year’s EMF & JTI Trauma Care Research Symposium?

From emerging findings in retrieval and pre-hospital care to building research capability and hearing directly from the patient perspective, last week’s symposium brought together ideas about how we can strengthen trauma care across regional, rural and remote Queensland.

📸 Read about the symposium and see the gallery here: https://emergencyfoundation.org.au/news/trauma-care-symposium-26/

A big thank you again to Jamieson Trauma Institute, everyone who contributed to the day, and Motor Accident Insurance Commission for its continued support of the Trauma Care Program.

🐾 It’s International Dog Day, so we're handing the EMF socials over to some very important members of our extended team....
26/08/2026

🐾 It’s International Dog Day, so we're handing the EMF socials over to some very important members of our extended team.

There’s plenty of personality and mischief among this lot, and some pretty good friendships too.

They may leave the work to the humans, but they play an important role of their own - giving cuddles, getting us outside and bringing plenty of joy to the EMF team (and their families!)

Happy International Dog Day 🐶

Thinking about taking your first steps into research? 💡 For Dr Philip Jones, ED Staff Specialist and Research Co-Lead a...
25/08/2026

Thinking about taking your first steps into research? 💡

For Dr Philip Jones, ED Staff Specialist and Research Co-Lead at Logan Hospital and an experienced mentor to emerging researchers, getting started can often be the hardest part.

His advice: start with an interesting, well-scoped clinical question, the technical skills can be learned along the way.

EMF's Emerge Grants are designed specifically for emergency healthcare clinicians beginning their research journey, providing funding and the support of an experienced mentor to undertake a small research project.

🔹 Up to $12,000 in funding
🔹 6-12 month projects
🔹 Guided by an experienced research mentor

Don't have a mentor? EMF can help connect eligible applicants with experienced researchers in their area of interest.

📅 Applications close Monday 31 August at 10am

📌 Learn more and apply: https://emergencyfoundation.org.au/grants/queensland/emerge/

EMF thanks the Queensland Government for funding the Queensland Research Program through Queensland Health.

Metro South Health

A great afternoon bringing trauma research, experience and ideas together. 🙌Yesterday, EMF and the Jamieson Trauma Insti...
21/08/2026

A great afternoon bringing trauma research, experience and ideas together. 🙌

Yesterday, EMF and the Jamieson Trauma Institute brought together clinicians, researchers, health leaders and consumers for the Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland Research Symposium.

From emerging research and building local research capability, to the lived experience of trauma and a fantastic discussion on priorities for future investment, the afternoon highlighted the value of bringing different perspectives together to strengthen trauma care across Queensland.

It was wonderful to have Gaenor Walker, A/Insurance Commissioner at Motor Accident Insurance Commission, Prof Michael Schuetz, Director of JTI, and Prof Hugh Grantham, EMF Board Chair, with us, alongside so many clinicians, researchers and partners.

A huge thank you to our presenters, panellists and everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful and engaging afternoon.

We gratefully acknowledge MAIC for supporting the Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland program.

📸 A few highlights from the day.

⚠️ This Queensland Road Safety Week, we're highlighting the role research plays in strengthening trauma care across Quee...
19/08/2026

⚠️ This Queensland Road Safety Week, we're highlighting the role research plays in strengthening trauma care across Queensland.

Tomorrow, EMF and the Jamieson Trauma Institute will bring clinicians, researchers, health leaders and consumers together at the Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland Research Symposium.

Research featured will explore out-of-hospital pain management, telehealth-supported trauma care and building research capability.

This includes Dr Eleanor Kitcatt's work evaluating pre-hospital fibrinogen administration for major haemorrhage and Dr Amanda McConnell's research into major accidents in North Queensland, alongside a panel discussion on priorities for future trauma research investment across regional, rural and remote Queensland.

📸 Follow along as we share highlights from the symposium.

We gratefully acknowledge the Motor Accident Insurance Commission for supporting the Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland program.

Following Dental Health Week earlier this month, we're spotlighting new EMF-funded research exploring a common reason pe...
17/08/2026

Following Dental Health Week earlier this month, we're spotlighting new EMF-funded research exploring a common reason people seek emergency care: dental pain. 🦷

Dental pain affects around one in five Australian adults and accounts for approximately 1% of ED presentations. Yet treatment options in the ED are often limited while patients wait to access definitive dental care.

💡Funded through Round 45 of EMF's Queensland Research Program, Gold Coast University Hospital Emergency Medicine Research Fellow Dr Colin Mak and a multidisciplinary team are leading the DEXA-DENT trial.

The randomised controlled trial will investigate whether a single dose of oral dexamethasone can improve pain relief for adults presenting with acute atraumatic dental pain, while also examining other pain medication use, patient satisfaction, ED re-presentations and subsequent dental treatment.

If shown to be effective, this inexpensive and readily available medication could provide emergency clinicians with an additional evidence-based option to support patients while they await definitive dental care.

👏 Congratulations to Dr Mak and the collaborative team at Gold Coast Health, with expertise spanning emergency medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, dentistry, and pharmacy, with collaborators from Griffith University.

What happens after we fund research? 💡For children in rural and remote Queensland, a respiratory illness can mean a long...
13/08/2026

What happens after we fund research? 💡

For children in rural and remote Queensland, a respiratory illness can mean a long transfer to a tertiary hospital, hundreds of kilometres from home and away from family and support networks.

The PARIS on Country study, led by Associate Professor Donna Franklin and co-funded by EMF and the MRFF, is helping strengthen paediatric care closer to home.

By equipping rural and remote teams with training, guidance and equipment to safely deliver nasal high-flow therapy, the project is building local capability and confidence.

🩺 Clinical Nurses Peta Taylor from Atherton Hospital and Ruby Elliott from Cloncurry Hospital have seen the difference firsthand, from increased confidence and capability among rural teams to more opportunities for children to remain closer to their families and communities during treatment.

This is what funded research looks like: building capability, strengthening rural care and improving equity of access across Queensland.

🎢 Rides, showbags, dagwood dogs and strawberry sundaes, it can only mean one thing…Ekka Day is here! 🎡The EMF office wil...
11/08/2026

🎢 Rides, showbags, dagwood dogs and strawberry sundaes, it can only mean one thing…

Ekka Day is here! 🎡

The EMF office will be closed today, Wednesday 12 August, with the team back on Thursday.

Have a wonderful day, Brisbane! 🍓

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Suite 1A, 34 Sherwood Road, Toowong
Brisbane, QLD
4066

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+61737205700

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