"The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons assesses new surgical technologies in Australia. The results are widely disseminated to ensure public and professional confidence in the quality of new surgical procedures."
The Australian Federal Government and the South Australian State Government Departments of Health and Ageing, are committed to improving health outcomes for patients by funding health technology assessment (HTA). The Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures – Surgical (ASERNIP-S) was set up in early 1998. ASERNIP-S, a program of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, is overseen by Advisory Committee of surgeons, HTA experts and representatives of both professional bodies and consumer groups. The program is managed by a Surgical Director, Director and a Research Manager. There are three administrative staff and thirteen research and project staff with expertise in information management, epidemiology, biostatistics, critical analysis of literature and scientific editing.
The ASERNIP-S mission is to provide quality and timely assessments of new and emerging surgical technologies and techniques. Services provided include systematic reviews of the peer-reviewed literature, the establishment and facilitation of clinical audits or trials, the identification of emerging technologies by horizon scanning and the production of clinical practice guidelines.
Surgical specialty groups, government and consumer bodies, other organizations and individuals suggest procedures for assessment to ASERNIP-S. Procedures reviewed cover a range of specialties and are ratified by Advisory Committee. Review Groups, comprising surgeons and other experts for each procedure, advise and direct the researchers conducting the reviews. Data on safety and efficacy is collected, and the reviews are usually completed within six months. A rapid review may also be produced using less extensive but methodologically rigorous techniques. As a result the rapid review can inform stakeholders within 3 months of the original notification.