EPI-Centre is a research facility focussing on critical appraisal of medical tests, markers, decision tools and apps, bringing together experienced health researchers, industry, end users and clinical experts to facilitate the design, implementation and optimal use of healthcare applications in primary care.
Evaluating primary care innovations
Diagnostic testing forms the backbone of a large proportion of public healthcare, informing decisions about treatment, specialty referral and hospital admission. Over the past few decades, diagnostic technologies have become cheaper, smaller, and in some cases more accurate. A wide range and growing number of point-of-care tests which provide rapid ‘on site’ results are now available. These may have potential to improve outcomes by optimising prescribing decisions, reducing referrals, improving efficiency of care and decreasing costs.
Establishing a clinical need is a vital step in technology development, making successful adoption in routine care more likely. Evaluation of these tests should be prioritised to allow appropriate use of healthcare resources in primary care.
Clinical pathway
analytical performance
clinical performance
clinical effectiveness
cost effectiveness
