TORONTO, April 30, 2015 /CNW/ - The third annual Health Quality Symposium brings together leaders in healthcare to showcase how an innovative partnership has improved health quality in the Niagara region.
Today in Niagara Falls, 19 I-EQUIP (Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement Program) projects that pair students from Brock and McMaster's School of Medicine - Niagara campus, with leaders and front-line staff from the Niagara Health System (NHS) are being presented.
"I-EQUIP is an interprofessional program that provides our students with an opportunity to take a unique approach to improve health quality and develop into future leaders within the healthcare system." says Dr. Neil McCartney, Provost and Vice-President, Academic at Brock University. "Through academic and practical components, our students at Brock University are eager to share their developing expertise in an environment that allows them to learn while making real contributions to improving health quality in the Niagara region."
Healthcare professionals at the NHS are improving patient care through collaborative teams that combine expertise and help reduce educational gaps that exist when students enter the health profession.
"Niagara Health System is incredibly proud of our academic partnerships and the I-Equip project," says Dr. Suzanne Johnston, President at Niagara Health System. "Through collaboration, students and our teams are improving the health system, and more importantly patient experience and outcomes. As a result our reputation is growing as a hub for innovation and for leadership in quality improvement. We salute everyone who have made these projects and our Symposium today such a huge success."
The event will have more than 275 registered attendees that will be able to view a total of 39 quality improvement projects.
"Creating sustainable change towards improving the quality of care, patient-centred care and interprofessional collaboration is a unique opportunity for our medical students." says Dr. Karl Stobbe, Regional Assistant Dean at the McMaster Michael G.DeGroote School of Medicine's Niagara Regional Campus. "Equipping our future physicians with essential tools to drive quality improvement and collaborate with other professionals on day-to-day and major projects demonstrates an ongoing commitment to improving the health system. We are proud about the progress our students are making with our partners here in Niagara."
The Symposium feature 12 presentation sessions along with two keynote addresses from industry leaders Dr. Wesley Ely and Dr. Michael Christian.
An established researcher, Dr. Ely focuses on internal medicine with a subspecialty in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. As a Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Ely is a highly regarded physician-scientist with over 250 peer-reviewed publications and over 50 published book chapters and editorials.
The second keynote address will be from NHS's Chief Safety Officer, Dr. Christian. He has held diverse roles in the health system that include critical care, infectious diseases, internal medicine, flight surgeon, and originally as a paramedic.
A full list of health quality projects can be found at:
http://www.cvent.com/events/health-quality-symposium-2015/custom-21-6b8a55e71bf04c98ad3aa681b4262104.aspx
SOURCE Niagara Health System
Steven Gallagher, Communications Specialist, Niagara Health System, [email protected], 905-378-4647 x43879 or 289-696-6767
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