Overview
Background
Dr Emma Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leader Fellow in the Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing at The University of Queensland. Her research focuses on helping people with cardiovascular disease and other chronic health conditions live well over the long term.
Emma has particular expertise in the design, implementation, and evaluation of complex health interventions, including community-based cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation, and uses telehealth and other innovative models of care to support care access and equity.
A central theme of her work is understanding how effective interventions can be translated from research into real-world practice at scale. Drawing on implementation science, health services research, and systems approaches, she examines how interventions can be delivered with quality, sustainability, and equity across diverse populations and settings.
The Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing is uniquely embedded within the city of Springfield, Australia's largest master-planned community. Through a place-based “Living Lab” approach, the team works with healthcare providers, community organisations, consumers, government, and industry partners to co-design, test, and scale innovative solutions to complex health challenges.
Emma's vision is to create healthier and more connected communities by developing evidence-based models that harness the strengths of people, places, and local systems to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities in care.
Availability
- Dr Emma Thomas is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Speech Pathology, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, James Cook University
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne
Works
Search Professor Emma Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Other Outputs
Design considerations for delivering telehealth in Australian hospitals: the Hassell report
Thomas, Emma , Haydon, Helen , Caffery, Liam and Smith, Anthony (2020). Design considerations for delivering telehealth in Australian hospitals: the Hassell report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland.
2020
Conference Publication
Building on the momentum: sustaining telehealth use beyond COVID-19
Thomas, E. (2020). Building on the momentum: sustaining telehealth use beyond COVID-19. Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association-QLD Annual Education Event, Online, 6 November 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Lack of strategic funding and long-term job security threaten to have profound effects on cardiovascular researcher retention in Australia
Climie, Rachel E., Wu, Jason H. Y., Calkin, Anna C., Chapman, Niamh, Inglis, Sally C., Mirabito Colafella, Katrina M., Picone, Dean S., Tan, Joanne T. M., Thomas, Emma, Viola, Helena M., Wise, Steven G., Murphy, Andrew J., Nelson, Mark R., Nicholls, Stephen J., Hool, Livia C., Doyle, Kerry, Figtree, Gemma A. and Marques, Francine Z. (2020). Lack of strategic funding and long-term job security threaten to have profound effects on cardiovascular researcher retention in Australia. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 29 (11), 1588-1595. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2020.07.010
2020
Conference Publication
Top tips for setting up a telehealth services
Thomas, E. (2020). Top tips for setting up a telehealth services. Stroke quality improvement workshop, Online, 28 October 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Remote patient monitoring – when & for whom does it reduce acute care use?
Thomas, E., Snoswell, C., Taylor, M. and Caffery, L. (2020). Remote patient monitoring – when & for whom does it reduce acute care use?. Variations in Healthcare Workshop, Virtual, 19 October 2020.
2020
Newspaper Article
Video and phone consultations only scratch the surface of what telehealth has to offer
Snoswell, Centaine L., Smith, Anthony C., Thomas, Emma E., Haydon, Helen M. and Caffery, Liam J. (2020, 10 12). Video and phone consultations only scratch the surface of what telehealth has to offer The Conversation
2020
Journal Article
Sex-specific differences in percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes after a cardiac event: a cohort study examining the role of depression, worry and autonomic function
O'Neil, Adrienne, Scovelle, Anna J., Thomas, Emma, Russell, Josephine D., Taylor, C. Barr, Hare, David L., Toukhsati, Samia, Oldroyd, John, Rangani, W. P. Thanuja, Dheerasinghe, D. S. Anoja F. and Oldenburg, Brian (2020). Sex-specific differences in percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes after a cardiac event: a cohort study examining the role of depression, worry and autonomic function. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 29 (10), 1449-1458. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2020.03.001
2020
Journal Article
Building on the momentum: sustaining telehealth beyond COVID-19
Thomas, Emma E, Haydon, Helen M, Mehrotra, Ateev, Caffery, Liam J, Snoswell, Centaine L, Banbury, Annie and Smith, Anthony C (2020). Building on the momentum: sustaining telehealth beyond COVID-19. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 28 (4), 1357633X20960638-308. doi: 10.1177/1357633x20960638
2020
Conference Publication
Get measured, get managed: Australian cardiac rehabilitation national quality indicators to measure service program effectiveness
Astley, C., Thomas, E., Zecchin, R., Foreman, R., Ferry, C., Woodruffe, S. and Gallagher, R. (2020). Get measured, get managed: Australian cardiac rehabilitation national quality indicators to measure service program effectiveness. European Heart Care, Virtual, 29 August - 1 September 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
National quality indicators to promote cardiac rehabilitation service effectiveness in Australia
Gallagher, R., Astley, C., Thomas, E., Zecchin, R., Ferry, C. and Woodruffe, S. (2020). National quality indicators to promote cardiac rehabilitation service effectiveness in Australia. European Heart Care, Virtual, 29 August - 1 September 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Cardiac rehabilitation in Australia: national quality indicators to measure service effectiveness
Astley, C., Thomas, E., Zecchin, R., Foreman, R., Woodruffe, S., Ferry, C. and Gallagher, R. (2020). Cardiac rehabilitation in Australia: national quality indicators to measure service effectiveness. European Heart Care, Virtual, 29 August - 1 September 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Telehealth uptake in general practice as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Snoswell, Centaine L., Caffery, Liam J., Haydon, Helen M., Thomas, Emma E. and Smith, Anthony C. (2020). Telehealth uptake in general practice as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Australian Health Review, 44 (5), 737-740. doi: 10.1071/ah20183
2020
Other Outputs
Queensland telestroke business case
Thomas, Emma, Jaques, Katherine and Shah, Darshan (2020). Queensland telestroke business case. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2020
Conference Publication
Helping more people access cardiac rehabilitation: an overview of telehealth
Thomas, E., Haydon, H., Rawstorn, J., Gallagher, R and Smith, W. (2020). Helping more people access cardiac rehabilitation: an overview of telehealth. ACRA ASM, Online, 10 August 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
ACRA Early Career Researchers – how can we support each other?
Thomas, E. and Climie, R. (2020). ACRA Early Career Researchers – how can we support each other?. ACRA ASM, Online, 10-12 August 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
National CR quality indicators – what does it mean for South Australia
Thomas, E. and Astley, C. (2020). National CR quality indicators – what does it mean for South Australia. CHAP CR Education Seminar, Adelaide, SA Australia, 5 August 2020.
2020
Other Outputs
Telehealth and coronavirus: Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) activity in Australia
Snoswell, Centaine L., Caffery, Liam, Hobson, Georgina, Haydon, Helen M., Thomas, Emma and Smith, Anthony C. (2020). Telehealth and coronavirus: Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) activity in Australia. Telehealth and coronavirus: Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) activity in Australia St Lucia, Queensland, Australia: The University of Queensland, Centre for Online Health.
2020
Other Outputs
Quick guides for telehealth
Caffery, Liam, Hobson, Georgina, Mothershaw, Adam, Haydon, Helen M., Snoswell, Centaine L., Thomas, Emma, Zurynski, Yvonne, Smith, K-Lynne, Clay, Chrissy and Smith, Anthony C. (2020). Quick guides for telehealth. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre for Online Health (COH).
2020
Journal Article
Cardiac rehabilitation quality in Australia: Proposed national indicators for field-testing
Gallagher, Robyn, Thomas, Emma, Astley, Carolyn, Foreman, Rachelle, Ferry, Cate, Zecchin, Robert and Woodruffe, Steve (2020). Cardiac rehabilitation quality in Australia: Proposed national indicators for field-testing. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 29 (9), 1273-1277. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2020.02.014
2020
Journal Article
Telehealth for global emergencies: implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Smith, Anthony C., Thomas, Emma, Snoswell, Centaine L., Haydon, Helen, Mehrotra, Ateev, Clemensen, Jane and Caffery, Liam J. (2020). Telehealth for global emergencies: implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 26 (5), 1357633X20916567-313. doi: 10.1177/1357633x20916567
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Emma Thomas is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Integrating telehealth into cardiac rehabilitation programs
A scholarship for this project will be adverstised in 2024. If interested, please contact me.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Integrating telehealth into allied health services
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Ward, Dr Helen Haydon, Professor Liam Caffery
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improving equity, access, and quality of cardiac rehabilitation services
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jenna Taylor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Unpacking the determinants of heart disease in women: a comparative mixed-methods study of Iranian and Australian women
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jenna Taylor
Completed supervision
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the equity of access to telehealth and developing strategies to reduce the digital divide
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anthony Smith, Dr Jaimon Kelly
Media
Enquiries
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