A Canterbury District Health Board specialist in emergency medicine has been awarded the first Beaven Medal in recognition of an innovative research project.
Health Minister Tony Ryall presented the Health Research Council (HRC) Beaven Medal for excellence in translational research to Dr Martin Than tonight on the 50th anniversary of the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation.
Dr Than's research is focused on the medical decision-making process for emergency department patients with chest pain that might be due to a heart attack.
"I am confident Dr Than's research project will contribute to a primary outcome of improved health service delivery over the short-to-medium term, at local, regional and national levels," said HRC chief executive Dr Robin Olds.
Preliminary research suggests that early blood tests in a targeted low-risk group of patients can be used to rule out the diagnosis of a heart attack approximately 10 hours earlier than with the conventional diagnostic assessment.
This would allow earlier progression to the next phase of chest pain investigations, prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and facilitate early discharge home.
It also has the potential to change clinical practice in a cost-effective way, by reducing unnecessary admissions, duplication of staff activities and pressure upon urgent care services.
The Beaven Medal, named after the late Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven, recognises Sir Donald's long time interest in translating research into clinical practice. It will be awarded annually.
