SEED PROJECT - EPIC-Tech - Engineering and Physiotherapy Interdisciplinary Collaboration with Technology

About the Project

Chief Investigator: Dr Camila Shirota

Project title: EPIC-Tech: Engineering and Physiotherapy Interdisciplinary Collaboration with Technology - exploration of a transdisciplinary approach to allied health services at the PAH

Project Summary:

There is increased pressure on physiotherapy services to deliver more therapy with less resources. This project aims to explore the implementation of EPIC-Tech - Engineering and Physiotherapy Interdisciplinary Collaboration with Technology - a transdisciplinary approach to delivering therapy services - to deliver rehabilitation services more efficiently. This research model will embed rehabilitation engineers in the clinical team, using a novel robotic device at the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU) and the Geriatric and Rehabilitation Unit (GARU) at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH). The project will provide insight into the feasibility of this model at the PAH through a case-study, considering the perspectives from patients, clinicians, and engineers that will include economic outcomes.

Expected outcomes of this research will directly benefit the services and the users involved in the project, and indirectly, other rehabilitation services, as an exploratory implementation of transdisciplinary practice involving rehabilitation engineers in rehabilitation service delivery. This case study has potential to support future technology projects implementing this transdisciplinary - transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries - team approach for other health conditions.

Project Significance:

EPIC-Tech aims to embed co-design processes to deliver solutions that fit the BIRU and GARU physiotherapy services to increase their service users’ rehabilitation. In this project, we will support the safe and effective use of technology through translating the rehabilitation engineering discipline knowledge within in the clinical context to ensure the efficient and effective use of technology. We aim at improving clinical services by ensuring long-term device usability and clinician capability and capacity to work with technologies and across transdisciplinary teams.

This project will inform, enhance and accelerate future translation and implementation of technology-related projects into the clinic, driving improvement in service delivery and translation of knowledge into new ways of working to improve outcomes for people living with disability. The experience gained through the implementation of this model will leverage on emerging collaborations between technology developers, people with lived experience of disability, and clinical researchers. This will ensure access to future funding opportunities and embed efficiency of technology implementation in rehabilitation settings.

Project Timeline and Updates:

May 2023: Funding confirmed

July 2023: Project kick-off

Feb 2024: Ethics and governance approval

Feb-May 2024: Phase 1 (baseline) – 13 inpatient participants