Jodie Austin

Jodie is currently undertaking her PhD via the Faculty of Medicine at UQ, working with the Centre for Health Services Research. A clinical pharmacist by background, Jodie completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2001 and obtained her Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy in 2007. Jodie has spent recent years focused on electronic medication management systems and now works for eHealth Queensland, helping to optimise and maintain their integrated electronic medical record (ieMR). Her current research focuses on the management of therapeutic anticoagulation in a digital hospital environment. Anticoagulants are deemed high risk medications with the ability to cause significant patient harm or death if used incorrectly. In the current clinical environment, healthcare organisations are investing in health information technology as a quality improvement measure to enhance patient safety. It has been suggested that electronic medication management systems help to reduce preventable adverse drug events and hospital mortality rates, whilst others report the introduction of new types of medication errors. Her PhD will address the research question, ‘Does the implementation and modification of an ieMR improve the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of therapeutic anticoagulation management in a hospital environment?’

Jodie's advisors are Associate Professor Michael Barras, Associate Professor Clair Sullivan and Dr Centaine Snoswell.