The third annual Health Quality Symposium will bring together the leaders in healthcare to showcase how an innovative partnership has improved health quality in the Niagara region.
On April 30, 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 will be 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."
Health care professionals at the Niagara Health System (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-centered 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 will feature 12 presentation sessions along with two keynote addresses from industry leaders Dr. Wesley Ely and Dr. Michael Christian.
As 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 Brock University Alumnus Dr. Christian (BA ’96). After completing a Health Studies degree at Brock, he continued his education at McMaster and U of T with additional Public Health Training in the U.K. He furthered his career with diverse roles in the health system that include critical care, infectious diseases, internal medicine, flight surgeon, and originally as a paramedic.
Third Annual Health Quality Symposium
Thursday April 30, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls
A full list of health quality projects can be found at:
http://www.cvent.com/events/health-quality-symposium-2015/custom-21-6b8a55e71bf04c98ad3aa681b4262104.aspx
For more information or to arrange interviews:
Mike Armstrong, Communications Officer, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, 905-688-5550 x5342; mtarmstrong@brocku.ca
Steven Gallagher, Communications Specialist, Niagara Health System, steven.gallagher@niagarahealth.on.ca, 905-378-4647 x43879 or 289-696-6767
Erica Walters, Community Engagement and Development Officer, McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine – Niagara Regional Campus, 905-378-5717, ext. 6416; ewalter@mcmaster.ca
