University of Tasmania, Australia

Associate Professor of Health Services
Associate Head, Postgraduate Health Programs

PhD, GradCert RHD Supervision

General Responsibilities

Dr Stella Stevens is a/Associate Head, Postgraduate, in the School of Medicine, University of Tasmania. She is the co-ordinator of the Master of Clinical Supervision and Clinical Leadership which is designed for practicing clinicians moving into leadership positions.

Dr Stevens' research interests are in health services, patient safety and clinical governance.

Teaching Responsibilities

Dr Stevens teaches in the area of health service management and public health.

She has taught at The University of Liverpool (UK), The University of Queensland, Griffith University and now at the University of Tasmania.

Units

• CAM520 - Context of Clinical Practice in the Australian Health System
• CAM521 - Clinical Supervision & Leadership, Theory, Process & Practice
• CAM621 - Risk Management and Clinical Governance

Publications

• Vecchio, N., & Stevens, S. C., (2011). An investigation of service mix within the home and community care programme. Economic Papers, 30(1), 60-76.
• Stevens, S. C., & Vecchio, N. (2009). Substitution across professions within the home care sector: an investigation of nursing and allied health services. Australian Health Review, 33(1), 19-26.
• Vecchio, N., Cybinski, P., & Stevens, S. C. (2009). The effect of disability on the needs of caregivers. The International Journal of Social Economics, 36(7), 782-796.
• Stevens, S. C., & Norris, K. (2009). Valuing truth and transparency: organisational moral development and patient safety. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 4(4), 37-44.
• Vecchio, N., Stevens, S. C., & Cybinski, P. (2008). Caring for people with a mental disability at home: Australian carers' perceptions of service provision. Community Mental Health Journal, 44(2), 125-134.
• Allen, C., & Stevens, S. (2007). Health service integration: a case study in change management. Australian Health Review, 31(2), 267-275.

Web Access Research Portal (WARP)

Additional Information

More about Dr Stevens

Dr Stevens is particularly interested in clinician leadership, health systems and policy, the socio-economic determinants of health and the role of multidisciplinary approaches to addressing current and emerging health issues. Qualitative research is her preferred methodology but she works with quantitative researchers in joint projects exploring these issues.

Research Interests

The main focus is on clinical leaders and ways in which they implement change to improve quality and safety in health care. Health service workforce is the other primary interest, particularly investigating resource requirements, retention of clinical staff, communication within teams, and stress in the workplace.

Some of her current and recent research higher degree supervision projects include:

• Study of group cohesion communication strategies of clinical leaders as a factor in clinical network decision making and performance
• The study of epidemiological health data comparing affluent suburbs with less affluent suburbs in Ontario to determine associations with socio-economic disadvantage
• Health service integration case study of acute and community services in a Queensland District Health Service
• Study of multi-disciplinary clinical team performance in Canadian operating theatres
• Study in changing work practices when clinicians use telemedicine to deliver a health service
• Development of PDA software for use in drug administration
• Knowledge management in health services, rehabilitation ward case study with a Queensland District Health Service
• Implementation of information technology in GP settings, the barriers and facilitators
• She holds an NH&MRC research grant "Engaging Clinical Leaders in Integrating Research into Practice"