Information and Risk Modification Trial (INFORM): design of a randomised controlled trial of communicating different types of information about coronary heart disease risk, alongside lifestyle advice, to achieve change in health-related behaviour.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally. Primary prevention of CVD requires cost-effective strategies to identify individuals at high risk in order to help target preventive interventions. An integral part of this approach is the use of CVD risk scores.

Measuring and managing radiologist workload: application of lean and constraint theories and production planning principles to planning radiology services in a major tertiary hospital.

Introduction: We describe how techniques traditionally used in the manufacturing industry (lean management, the theory of constraints and production planning) can be applied to planning radiology services to reduce the impact of constraints such as limited radiologist hours, and to subsequently reduce delays in accessing imaging and in report turnaround.

Methods: Targets for imaging and reporting were set aligned with clinical needs. Capacity was quantified for each modality and for radiologists and recorded in activity lists.

Role of an acute assessment and review area for general surgical patients.

Background: Increasing demand for acute surgical services is one of the major challenges facing modern health systems. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of implementing a dedicated surgical assessment and review area (SARA) on patient flow for acute general surgical patients at a major teaching hospital in New Zealand.

Methods: A specific area within inpatient surgical beds was redeveloped and staffed by a dedicated surgical team.