RIX research shows path to faster ED care
Redcliffe Hospital Radiographer Clinical Educator Serenity Meredith
Redcliffe Hospital research is helping patients with musculoskeletal injuries receive care sooner in emergency departments.
Redcliffe Hospital’s Radiographer Initiated X-ray (RIX) research project explored whether radiographers could safely and appropriately initiate X-ray imaging for low-risk musculoskeletal injuries in an emergency department setting.
Radiographer Clinical Educator Serenity Meredith was one of the researchers leading the project.
“The research highlighted a new model of care that allows patients with simple injuries to access x-ray imaging earlier during their emergency department presentation,” Ms Meredith said.
“Access to x-ray imaging sooner supports faster diagnosis, quicker treatment, and less time waiting in the emergency department.”
Ms Meredith said the research was driven by the hospital’s commitment to innovation and exploring new and better ways to safety respond to increasing emergency department demand.
“It was also motivated by a desire to more efficiently utilise our skilled radiography workforce, without compromising safety,” she said.
“We used a survey-based design and real anonymised emergency department triage notes for musculoskeletal presentations. Radiographers, nurse practitioners and emergency consultants independently reviewed the same cases and selected appropriate imaging, allowing us to directly compare their clinical decision-making.”
The study demonstrated strong agreement between radiographers and emergency department clinicians in selecting appropriate imaging for extremity injuries.
“This supported the conclusion that radiographers make safe, clinically appropriate imaging decisions within a defined criteria that aligns with our emergency department clinical colleagues,” Ms Meredith said.
“It also confirmed that radiographers already possess the clinical skills to assess and determine appropriate imaging for low-risk musculoskeletal presentations.”
Ms Meredith said the medical imaging department at Redcliffe Hospital has since received Model of Care funding from Queensland Health to support the feasibility of implementing RIX within the emergency department, credentialling and undertaking a formal evaluation of the impacts on areas like patient flow and safety.
The research has since been published in the journal, Radiography, as Radiographer – Clinician agreement on imaging selection for extremity injuries in the emergency department – A pilot study, authored by Serenity Meredith, Ashlyn McBurnie, Iulio Tavete and Christopher Edwards.