What is the project about?
Patients referred for an orthopaedic specialist appointment often experience a lengthy waiting period, which can lead to a decline in physical and mental health and wellbeing. The aim of The Waitlist Project is to a better understand the health and wellbeing of these patients and ultimately improve patient care.
Who’s involved?
The project is a multidisciplinary collaboration involving several Western Health departments and researchers and academics from Victoria University. The project is led by Prof Phong Tran, Head of the Orthopaedic Department at Western Health, and by Prof Itamar Levinger from Victoria University.
What are the anticipated outcomes?
The Waitlist Project is characterizing the physical, mental and social health and wellbeing of patients on the orthopaedic waitlist at Western Health to improve departmental procedures and patient care. The project also involves the development and testing of a low-cost e-health website designed specifically for people from diverse cultural backgrounds living in Melbourne’s Western suburbs with the aim of making this website available to patients who are waiting for a specialist appointment.
