Weekly Dose

Launching 28 July – Smarter, Safer, More Sustainable Testing in ED 

We’re excited to announce the launch of SQuDs-ED  
(Sustainable and Quality Use of Diagnostics in the Emergency Department) on Monday 28 July. 

What’s it about? 

SQuDs-ED is all about reducing low-value pathology and imaging tests—those that: 

• Add little or no clinical value 

• May delay care or cause patient harm 

• Increase costs 

• Contribute to unnecessary environmental impact 

With support from Safer Care Victoria and Climate Health Victoria, we’re taking a smarter, more sustainable approach to diagnostics that puts patients first. 

What are we targeting first? 

Our initial focus areas—ranked by urgency—include: 

• VBGs (Venous Blood Gases) 

• Coags (Coagulation Studies) 

• PIVCs (Peripheral IV Cannulas) 

• CT L-Spines (Lumbar Spine) 

• CT KUBs (Kidney, Ureter, Bladder) 

• CT PAs (Pulmonary Angiogram) 

How we’re driving smarter testing 

We’re supporting change through: 

• Clearer test indications 

• Evidence-based decision tools 

• Updated policies & workflows 

• Staff education & training 

• Communication & feedback 

Why this matters 

In June alone: 

• Nearly 3,000 tests across VBGs and Coags 

• Over $95,000 in costs 

• Equivalent to driving 35km in carbon emissions 

Final message 

Let’s choose wisely. 
Let’s protect patients, reduce harm, and streamline care. 
Let’s build a more sustainable healthcare system—together. 

If you are interested in hearing more or would like to contribute, please feel free to reach out me or anyone else from the team.