Professor Diana Egerton-Warburton, a senior emergency physician and clinician researcher at Monash Health and Monash University, champions patient and community advocacy in emergency care research. As Co-Chair of the Monash Emergency Research Collaborative, she oversees research across five Emergency Departments. Her research focuses on pragmatic, patient-centred approaches that influence clinical practice, with grant applications co-designed with consumers from the outset.
To ensure research addresses questions that matter to both clinicians and the community, Diana established a Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP). This standing committee includes diverse consumers and carers with lived experience in emergency care who help shape research priorities, study design, and communication strategies, ensuring outcomes are meaningful to patients.
One standout project supported by the CAP is “Just Say No, to the Just in Case Cannula”, which aims to reduce unnecessary cannula insertions in emergency departments. These procedures can cause pain, infection, and complications. Consumers co-designed the research and contributed to clinician education, helping shift practice toward safer, more respectful care.
The CAP was formed through targeted recruitment, including expressions of interest, and partnership with Monash Partners. Members reflect a wide range of backgrounds, including age, culture, disability, and geography. Clear guidelines, ongoing support, and inclusive communication methods ensure the panel remains engaged and effective.
The CAP model demonstrates how genuine partnerships with consumers can enhance emergency care research, ensuring it is inclusive, and impactful.
Hear from Professor Diana Egerton-Warburton and Kristine Hegarty, consumer partner, on their experiences on the Emergency Care Consumer Advisory Panel.