DrJohn Rihari-Thomas

Dr Rihari-Thomas has clinical backgrounds in both cardiology & patient deterioration in acute care settings. John has held positions on both the Clinical Excellence Commissions' Deteriorating Patient Advisory Group and NSW state Clinical Council. 
John successfully implemented the rapid response system (RRS) at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney with the aim of early recognition of clinically deteriorating patients, reducing adverse clinical events such as unplanned Intensive Care Unit admissions, unexpected cardiac arrests and deaths. John was also the St. Vincent's Local Health Network's Program Lead for the Sepsis Kills and REACH programs. Working as a Project manager & Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, John primarily project led 2 large randomised control trials across 3 states in Australia (the Assessment and CommuniCation ExcelLEnce foR sAfe paTient outcomEs (ACCELERATE) Trial and the Evidence-based Nursing Core assessment Trial, both supporting acute care ward nurses to: i) improve patient surveillance and conduct assessment practices to full scope of practice; ii) improve communication between clinicians and iii) reduce patient harm. With implementation science expertise, Johns research is now focused on Person-centred Practice policy and systems, and de-implementation of low-value care practices.