Dr Oliver Frank
I have been in clinical general practice since 1978, and was a partner in a practice from 1988 until 2009. Exchanges of practice with English GPs in 1993-1994 in Nottingham and in 2000-2001 in Bristol allowed me to compare the British NHS with the Australian health system as a practitioner working within those systems.
My PhD was awarded in 2006 for a thesis based on a randomised controlled trial of automated opportunistic reminders to general practitioners about preventive activities. I designed and conducted the trial and programmed a general practice computer system to generate the automated reminders.
In 2006 I started an academic career part time, with the balance of my time continuing to be spent in clinical practice. My professional and academic interests are in prevention, clinical informatics, quality of care and health services. I lead a research program that is developing and evaluating the benefits of automatically presenting targeted individualised education, information and advice about preventive and other care to people who are attending their general practitioner or practice nurse.
I have served and continue to serve on a range of professional and government committees and boards related to my interests.
I lead a research program that is exploring the benefits of providing education, information and advice to people when they arrive for consultations in their general medical practice (family practice).
We have developed technology that automatically generates targeted personalised education, information and advice based on the patient’s current status, and that is presented to the patient at a moment when the patient can act immediately with a minimum of additional time, effort or cost. Our software runs when the patient arrives for a consultation and compares algorithms about recommended preventive and other care with data in the patient’s electronic clinical record to generate relevant education, information and advice that is given to the patient to read while waiting to see the GP or practice nurse.
This strategy can be used to increase the performance of preventive care and care of diagnosed conditions. We are exploring its use to help to recruit participants for research studies that are being conducted in or via general practice.
I am also involved in research projects with a range of colleagues that are aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of care provided in general practice.
Appointments
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | University Senior Research Fellow | University of Adelaide |
| 1978 | General practitioner | Self |
Education
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 - 2006 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 1971 - 1976 | University of Adelaide | Australia | MBBS |
Certifications
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Fellow | Australasian College of Health Informatics | Australia |
| 1984 | Fellow | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | Australia |
| 1980 | Full Member | Australian Society of Hypnosis | Australia |
| 1979 | Family Planning Certificate | Family Planning Association of South Australia | Australia |
Research Interests
General Clinical Medicine, Health Informatics, Health Information Systems, Health Policy & Services, Preventive Medicine
Journals
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Frank, O., Stocks, N. & Knieriemen, A. (2017). Providing “just-in-time” preventive care advice. Annals of Family Medicine, 15, 3, 276-. 10.1370/afm.2066 |
| 2017 | Westaway, K., Frank, O., Husband, A., McClure, A., Shute, R. & Curtis, J. (2017). Minimising fracture risk in older people taking long-term oral corticosteroids. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 47, 2, 158-162. 10.1002/jppr.1321 |
| 2017 | Liaw, S., Kearns, R., Taggart, J., Frank, O., Lane, R., Tam, M. ... Harris, M. (2017). The informatics capability maturity of integrated primary care centres in Australia. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 105, 89-97. 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.06.002 |
| 2017 | Frank, O. (2017). Discharge summary quality assessment tool. Australian Family Physician, 46, 4, 184-. |
| 2016 | Frank, O. (2016). My Health Record: repository or communication tool?. Public health research & practice, 26, 2, -. 10.17061/phrp2621623 |
| 2015 | Frank, O. R. & Stocks, N. P. (2015). A bowel cancer screening plan at last. Medical Journal of Australia, 202, 4, iii-iv. 10.5694/mja14.01547 |
| 2015 | Westaway, K., Frank, O., Husband, A., McClure, A., Shute, R., Edwards, S. ... Rowett, D. (2015). Medicines can affect thermoregulation and accentuate the risk of dehydration and heat-related illness during hot weather. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 40, 4, 363-367. 10.1111/jcpt.12294 |
| 2015 | Mnatzaganian, G., Karnon, J., Moss, J., Elshaug, A., Metz, M., Frank, O. & Hiller, J. (2015). Informing disinvestment with limited evidence: cobalamin deficiency in the fatigued. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 31, 3, 188-196. 10.1017/S0266462315000331 |
| 2015 | Young, J., Win, A., Rosty, C., Flight, I., Roder, D., Young, G. ... Price, T. (2015). Rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer in Australia over two decades: report and review. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 30, 1, 6-13. 10.1111/jgh.12792 |
| 2014 | Westaway, K., Alderman, C., Frank, O., Husband, A., Rowett, D. & Le Blanc, T. (2014). Optimising therapy for patients with neuropathic pain. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 44, 1, 44-47. 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2014.tb00016.x |
| 2014 | Frank, O., Aylward, P. & Stocks, N. (2014). Development of pre-consultation prevention summary and reminder sheets for patients: Preliminary study of acceptability and sustainability. Australian Family Physician, 43, 5, 310-314. |
| 2014 | Westaway, K., Frank, O., Husband, A., Rowet, D., Rossi, S., Blanc, T. & Shute, R. (2014). Safe use of statins in elderly people. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 44, 3, 138-142. 10.1002/jppr.1022 |
| 2013 | Ried, K., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2013). Aged garlic extract reduces blood pressure in hypertensives: a dose-response trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67, 1, 64-70. 10.1038/ejcn.2012.178 |
| 2013 | Bell, J., Blacker, N., LeBlanc, V., Alderman, C., Phillips, A., Rowett, D. ... Husband, A. (2013). Prescribing for older people with chronic renal impairment. Australian Family Physician, 42, 1, 24-28. |
| 2013 | Johnson, D., Frank, O., Pond, D. & Stocks, N. (2013). Older people with mild cognitive impairment: their views about assessing driving safety. Australian Family Physician, 42, 5, 317-320. |
| 2013 | Newman, L. & Frank, O. (2013). The rhetoric and reality of e-health: A critical assessment of the benefits of e-health in primary health care. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 19, 4, 265-269. 10.1071/PY13133 |
| 2013 | Stocks, N. & Frank, O. (2013). Study design of ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE): A randomized, controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 36, 2, 555-564. 10.1016/j.cct.2013.09.014 |
| 2012 | Ried, K., Sullivan, T., Fakler, P., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2012). Effect of cocoa on blood pressure. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012, 8, 1-84. 10.1002/14651858.CD008893.pub2 |
| 2012 | Bell, J., Blacker, N., Edwards, S., Frank, O., Alderman, C., Karan, L. ... Rowett, D. (2012). Osteoporosis pharmacological prevention and management in older people. Australian Family Physician, 41, 0003, 110-+. |
| 2012 | Bell, J., Mezrani, C., Blacker, N., Tammy, L., Frank, O., Alderman, C. ... Shute, R. (2012). Anticholinergic and sedative medicines Prescribing considerations for people with dementia. Australian Family Physician, 41, 1-2, 45-49. |
| 2012 | Frank, O. (2012). Hospitals are not an appropriate setting in which to provide catch-up immunisations. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 48, 12, 1106-1107. 10.1111/jpc.12004 |
| 2012 | Stocks, N., Allan, J., Frank, O., Williams, S. & Ryan, P. (2012). Improving attendance for cardiovascular risk assessment in Australian general practice: an RCT of a monetary incentive for patients. BMC Family Practice, 13, 1, 1-6. 10.1186/1471-2296-13-54 |
| 2011 | Stocks, N., Frank, O., Linn, A., Anderson, K. & Meertens, S. (2011). Vertical integration of teaching in Australian general practice - a survey of regional training providers. Medical Journal of Australia, 194, Suppl. 11, S75-S78. |
| 2011 | Frank, O. (2011). Care continuity starts with GPs. Australian Doctor, 22-APRIL, 25-. |
| 2011 | Frank, O., Stocks, N. & Aylward, P. (2011). Patient acceptance and perceived utility of pre-consultation prevention summaries and reminders in general practice: pilot study. BMC Family Practice, 12, 1, 40-1-40-8. 10.1186/1471-2296-12-40 |
| 2011 | Frank, O. (2011). A fistful of prescriptions: is there a better way?. Australian Family Physician, 40, 9, 659-659. |
| 2011 | Ried, K., Sullivan, T., Fakler, P., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2011). Effect of chocolate on blood pressure. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, 1-7. 10.1002/14651858.CD008893 |
| 2010 | Ried, K., Sullivan, T., Fakler, P., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2010). Does chocolate reduce blood pressure? A meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 8, 39, 1-11. 10.1186/1741-7015-8-39 |
| 2010 | Reid, K., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2010). Chocolate and blood pressure: Chocolate dose may be too much. British Medical Journal, 341, 7768, 318-318. 10.1136/bmj.c4176 |
| 2010 | Ried, K., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2010). Aged garlic extract lowers blood pressure in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension: A randomised controlled trial. Maturitas, 67, 2, 144-150. 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.06.001 |
| 2010 | Ried, K., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2010). Chocolate and blood pressure. Chocolate dose may be too much.. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 341, -. |
| 2009 | Frank, O. (2009). General and relative time in urban general practice. Medical Journal of Australia, 191, 2, 125-125. |
| 2009 | Ried, K., Frank, O. & Stocks, N. (2009). Dark chocolate or tomato extract for prehypertension: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 9, 1, 1-12. 10.1186/1472-6882-9-22 |
| 2008 | Ried, K., Frank, O., Stocks, N., Fakler, P. & Sullivan, T. (2008). Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 8, 13, 1-12. 10.1186/1471-2261-8-13 |
| 2008 | Frank, O. (2008). Big step to improving patient care. Australian Doctor, 12/SEPT., 2-. |
| 2008 | Frank, O. (2008). Wishful thinking. Australian Doctor, 29/AUG., 23-. |
| 2007 | Frank, O. (2007). In a paper bind [5]. Australian Doctor, 23/MAR., 21-. |
| 2007 | Frank, O. (2007). Nurse questions [3]. Australian Doctor, 6/JULY, 25-. |
| 2007 | Frank, O. (2007). GP-free TV [2]. Australian Doctor, 29/JUNE, 23-. |
| 2007 | Frank, O. R. (2007). Untitled - To the editor. MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 187, 8, 473-474. |
| 2006 | Frank, O. (2006). Item 291. Australian Family Physician, 35, 9, 663-. |
| 2006 | Frank, O. (2006). Fatness. Australian Family Physician, 35, 8, 567-568. |
| 2006 | Frank, O. & Agzarian, J. (2006). Making CO2 cryotherapy more economical. Australian Family Physician, 35, 11, 839-. |
| 2005 | Frank, O., Litt, J. & Beilby, J. (2005). Preventive activities during consultations in general practice : influences on performance. Australian Family Physician, 34, 6, 508-512. |
| 2004 | Frank, O., Litt, J. & Beilby, J. (2004). Opportunistic electronic reminders: Improving performance of preventive care in general practice. Australian Family Physician, 33, 1-2, 87-90. |
| 2004 | Frank, O., Litt, J. & Beilby, J. (2004). Opportunistic electronic reminders : improving performance of preventive care in general practice. Australian Family Physician, 33, 1/2, 87-90. |
| 1999 | Frank, O. & May, F. (1999). Outcomes of an educational-outreach service for community medical practitioners: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (multiple letters) [4]. Medical Journal of Australia, 171, 7, 388-389. |
| 1997 | Frank, O. (1997). Registers, recalls and reminders. Australian Family Physician, 26, 1, 42-47. |
| 1997 | Frank, O. (1997). Practice compared--payment systems. Aust Fam Physician, 26, 1229-. |
| 1996 | Frank, O. & Kidd, M. (1996). A guide to computer-generated prescriptions. Australian Family Physician, 25, 7, 1162-1163. |
| 1996 | Frank, O. (1996). Preventing falls in the elderly at home: a community-based program. The Medical Journal of Australia, 165, 4, 238-. |
| 1992 | Frank, O. (1992). Capitation: a service by another name. Australian Family Physician, 21, 3, 270-272. |
| 1991 | Frank, O. (1991). Medical reference filing systems. Australian Family Physician, 20, 1, 57-59. |
| 1989 | Bungey, J., Pols, R., Mortimer, K., Frank, O. & Skinner, H. (1989). Screening alcohol & drug use in a general practice unit: a comparison of computerised and traditional methods. Community Health Studies, 13, 4, 471-483. 10.1111/j.1753-6405.1989.tb00706.x |
| 1988 | Frank, O. & Coulthard, K. (1988). Paracetamol for fever in children. Australian Family Physician, 17, 9, 771-. |
| 1986 | Frank, O. (1986). Accidents in childhood.. The Medical journal of Australia, 144, 12, 671-. |
| 1985 | FRANK, O. (1985). COMPUTERS FOR MEDICAL OFFICES - LEUDTKE,P, LEUDTKE,R. COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDIES, 9, 3, 303-303. |
NHMRC Endorsed Guidelines
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Cox, M., Frank, O., Osti, O., Merlin, T., Atkinson, R. & Jezukaitis, P.; (2008); Clinical guidelines for best practice management of acute and chronic whiplash-associated disorders; |
Theses
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Frank, O. R.; (2006); Opportunistic reminders and other influences on the performance of preventive activities in consultations in general practice; |
2010 onwards
| Date | Project/No. | Investigators | Funding Body | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Customising pathways to self-management support for people with osteoarthritis. |
Elizabeth Hoon, Oliver Frank,Tiffany Gill, Catherine Hill, Caroline Laurence.
|
2016 Arthritis Australia Project Grant: the Arthritis Australia and State/Territory Affiliate Translational Grant funded by Arthritis South Australia | $40,000 |
| 2015 | EMPOWER: Health Systems, Adversity and Child Well Being. NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence. | John Lynch (Chief Investigator), Oliver Frank (Associate Investigator). | NHMRC | $4.972 M |
| 2014 | E-Health Initiatives and Health Care Integration in GP Super Clinics. | Siaw-Teng Liaw, Oliver Frank, Sarah Dennis, Jane Taggart, Grant Russell, Mark Harris. | Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute grant: Integrated Primary Health Care Centres research stream. | $149 997 |
| 2014 | Turning Recipients into Participants; A pilot study of the feasibility, acceptability and impact of introducing an online software system into a general practice to increase patient engagement with chronic disease and risk factor management. | Wade VA, Frank OR, Stocks NP. | 2014 HCF Research Foundation/ RACGP Research Grant | $60 000 |
| 2014 | Improving the bone health of cancer survivors – a pilot study of patient activation and resource provision to improve bone health management after breast and prostate cancer. | Vanlint S, Koczwara B, Frank OR, Emery J. | 2014 RACGP/Osteoporosis Australia Bone Health Research Grant | $28 704 |
| 2012 | Increasing prevention, detection and treatment of osteoporosis through automated opportunistic reminders to patients, general practitioners and practice nurses. | Frank OR, Stocks NP, Aylward P. | 2011 RACGP/Osteoporosis Australia Bone Health Research Grant | $29 528 |
| 2011 | Effect and dose-response of a standardised garlic preparation on blood pressure in individuals with mild to moderate hypertension. | Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP. | 2011 Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Grant | $15 000 |
| 2011 | Feasibility, acceptability and sustainability of automated production of pre-consultation patient prevention summary and reminder sheets: pilot study. | Frank OR, Stocks NP, Aylward P. | 2011 RACGP Foundation Grant for a Pilot Study | $19 846 |
| 2010 | Beliefs and attitudes of older people with impaired cognition, and of their relatives, towards the impaired person’s continuing to drive. | Frank OR, Stocks NP, Pond D. | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Research Foundation/Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD) Research Fellowship | $29 333 |
Committee Memberships
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2019 | Member | Clinical and Technical Board Advisory Committee | Australian Digital Health Agency | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | RACGP Expert Committee – eHealth and Practice Systems | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | Australia |
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | Strategy Group, SA Cancer Service | SA Health | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | eHealth network, RACGP National Faculty of Specific Interests | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | Australia |
| 2012 - ongoing | Member | Northern Region GP Council | Northern Health Network | Australia |
| 2011 - ongoing | Member | National Bowel Cancer Screening Program State Reference Group | SA Health | Australia |
| 2010 - ongoing | Member | Writing group, MATES quality use of medicines program | Department of Veterans’ Affairs | Australia |
Position
University Senior Research Fellow
Phone
83133455
Fax
8313 3511
Campus
North Terrace
Building
Hughes Building
Room Number
8 09
Org Unit
General Practice