About the project

The Assessment and CommuniCation ExcelLEnce foR sAfe paTient outcomEs Plus (ACCELERATE+) study is a stepped-wedge cluster randomised control trial. The aim of the trial is to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of an externally facilitated organisational ward-level intervention that will facilitate comprehensive and systematic patient assessment by nurses and improve clinical handover and communication. 

The trial assesses the effect of improving patient assessment and handover communication on preventing patient adverse events, with the goal being to improve patient safety by implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of a ward-level intervention for improved patient assessment and clinical handover by nurses.

The trial has commitment and executive support from four hospital health services across two states (NSW: St Vincent’s Health Network, Sydney, Prince of Wales hospital, Lismore Base Hospital; Victoria: St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne) and three university partner organisations (Australian Catholic University, Australian National University and Southern Cross University).

The trial is an exemplar of the interconnection between healthcare research, clinical practice, and education.

Publications

• Rihari-Thomas, J., Whittam, S., Goncharov, L., Slade, D., McElduff, B., Pritchard, T., McMahon, J., Coventry, A., Coughlan, K., Steadward, Y., Taylor, J., Thornton, A., Riddell, K., Tuqiri, K., Olesen, K., Dahm, M., Chien, L., Kelly, P., McInnes, E., Middleton, S. (2022). Assessment and communication excellence for safe patient outcomes (ACCELERATE): A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial protocol. Collegian Journal of the Royal College of Nursing Australia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.06.006.

Project contact

Liza Goncharov
liza.goncharov@anu.edu.au