Putting Caboolture on international map

Emma Williams is helping to put Caboolture Hospital on the international research map.

As Caboolture’s first dedicated clinical trials nurse, Emma will co-ordinate medical trials and research projects.

These will develop research clinicians and get Caboolture in large international research projects to improve treatment options for the local community.

The role was created with collaborative support from Herston Infectious Diseases Institute (HeiDI) and Caboolture Hospital’s Intensive Care and Surgical stream.

“It’s really exciting and a passion for me,” said Emma, a former “beside” ICU nurse whose Masters in Nursing started with a research component.

“Coming up with an idea for a research project and the steps involved ignited something in me.

"Now being able to contribute to how we deliver patient care and improve it is amazing.”

Her aim is to “find the prevalent issues" in Caboolture hospital, what concerns the community, do research to improve it and “translate that research into practice”.

“I primarily came on to help senior consultants with huge clinical trials they are trying to undertake, so we can bring more trials to the hospital,” said Emma.

Caboolture already collaborates with other hospitals, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care research group and The George Institute.

"They are able to research projects to us and help fund them which give us the resources we need," said Emma, 

“We’ll run a lot of larger clinical trials, so there will be international multi-centred clinical trials specifically with ICU.

“We’ve got one coming on introducing a new drug, widely researched and implemented in America, which hasn’t come over here yet.

“By participating in these trials we are able to get access and bring that to our community … which is an amazing feat.”

Emma has been a nurse for eight years, “starting rurally” before moving to Caboolture Hospital’s ICU four years ago and has now taken “a big step into research”. Her future goals include starting a PhD.

“The importance of research is being able to provide our patients with evidence-based best practice, guiding and shaping it,” Emma said.

“At the moment, I’m helping facilitate and co-ordinate and will then try to start research projects. I’ll aim to do more locally and look at local issues.

"I've been to consumer engagement meetings, to present our research, and that has been so beneficial."