I am a health services researcher interested interested in researching how safe, effective and efficient healthcare can be delivered to patients in a complex and changing healthcare system. My research has typically been highly collaborative, inter-disciplinary and health-system focussed.  It has included the development and evaluation of new models of care, for example home infusions for people with multiple sclerosis, nurse endoscopies for low-risk patients and enhanced recovery post elective caesarean section. Additionally, I am interested in how to positively change healthcare delivery and outcomes for patients, for example by encouraging the use of evidence in clinical practice, by addressing patient safety concerns, or by testing new roles in the healthcare team, such as new roles for nurses.

My main research methods include the conduct of systematic reviews, mixed methods and purely quantitative or qualitative evaluations, patient safety data analysis, and conducting clinical trials. 

I have over 15 years experience in health services research, and a focus on quantitative health research methods. I have been involved in numerous studies of observational data, typically cross-sectional surveys but other forms such as clinical audit, patient safety incident analysis and quality improvement evaluations. I am also experienced in mixed methods and qualitative approaches, and have led randomised controlled trials in both the hospital and home settings. I am also a very experienced systematic reviewer, having conducted >10 reviews using Cochrane and Joanna Briggs methods including: reviews of effectiveness, diagnostic test accuracy, and mixed methods; umbrella reviews and scoping reviews.

I am an Associate Investigator on the CRE in Frailty and Healthy Ageing, and collaborating with Professor Jon Karnon on 'Using economic evaluation to inform local health service decision making around the funding of existing and new health services'. Other current projects include:

• Contextually Appropriate Nurse Staffing Models: A Realist Review
• Butler, M., Schultz, T., Halligan, P., Kinsman, L. & Drennan, J. (2020). The development of a core set of outcomes for hospital nurse staffing. COMET Initiative: http://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/1651
• Improving evidence utilisation by health professionals in public health centres (Puskesmas) to reduce neonatal mortality in South Kalimantan
• Butler, M., Schultz, T., & Drennan, J. (2020). Substitution of nurses for physicians in the hospital setting for patient, process of care, and economic outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020(5). https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013616/full 
• Konno, R., Inoue, K., Schultz, T., & Wiechula, R. (2019). Best evidence for advance care planning in older adults with dementia and their families: an umbrella review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports.
• Alzhanova, A., Schultz, T., Schadewaldt, V & Hendriks, J. (2020). Effectiveness of nurse-led clinics for patients with coronary heart disease: a protocol for systematic review update.