Media Release
August 22 2003
World first in evidence-based allied health
The University of South Australia will be home to the new Centre for
Allied Health Evidence, a collaborative centre of the Joanna Briggs
Institute, and the first of its kind in the world.
The Centre for Allied Health Evidence (CAHE) will provide a much needed
resource for allied health workers, researchers, educators, clinicians,
policy makers, administrators and patients, by providing a repository
for evidence-based research in a wide range of areas from physiotherapy
through to medical radiations.
Department of Human Services Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jim Birch, will
officially launch CAHE at 5:30 on Tuesday 26th August 2003 at City East
Campus, UniSA at Gate One Café, Frome Road.
According to CAHE Director, UniSA’s Associate Professor Karen Grimmer,
the centre provides a unique opportunity to produce evidence-based
solutions to allied health problems and ensure that treatment strategies
are based on the best evidence and research available.
“This represents a major opportunity to put South Australia on the map
internationally in allied health evidence-based academic, teaching and
clinical practice,” said Prof Grimmer.
“The Centre’s focus on physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and
medial radiation and will increase community and clinical awareness of
the importance of these therapies in the whole health picture.
“Evidence-based research will provide a significant impact on allied
health care by taking relevant, high quality, evidence-based research
and ensuring it is widely disseminated,” she said.
CAHE will be offering workshops to allied health clinicians to educate
and promote evidence-based practice as the future of allied health. It
will also offer consultancy services to organisations requiring
evidence-based allied health information.
Prof Grimmer said that CAHE is offering this consultancy service to
insurance companies locally and nationally to promote best practice in
allied health treatment and ensure that patients are receiving the
correct treatment in a timely manner.
“Having a standard of care for the treatment of a variety of conditions
will ensure that people get the most efficient and highest quality care
for their particular ailment. This will not only save time and money for
individuals but also save dollars across the health sector.”
CAHE Director, Prof Karen Grimmer, is a long-standing member of the
UniSA community and all deputy directors of the Centre are from UniSA’s
Division of Health Sciences and specialists in their fields
(physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and medical radiations).
Professor Grimmer said the provision of two years funding for the centre
from the SA Department of Human Services demonstrates its commitment to
CAHE and the role it will play in achieving best practice allied health
care in the State.
Media contact
- Thel Krollig (08) 8302 0028 or 040 7726175.
- More information: Associate Professor Karen Grimmer, CAHE Director (08) 8302 2769