Embedding researchers in health service organizations improves research translation and health service performance: the Australian Hunter New England Population Health example

In many health disciplines, epidemiological, clinical, and health service research rarely influences health policy or practice [1–3]. A primary impediment to the translation of health and medical research findings into either health service improvements or community benefit is the poor alignment between the focus of research and the knowledge needs of policy makers and practitioners [4]. In developing health policy or practice, policy makers and practitioners need to identify effective interventions that could feasibly be delivered in the context and resources of their community [4,5].