Innovative joint partnership to address urban healthcare in Ontario
Toronto, October 2009 — A partnership between Ryerson University, George Brown College and St Michael's Hospital may
change how we think of a visit to the family doctor. With funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, researchers and students
from these three Toronto institutions are looking at improving the quality of urban healthcare delivery and research. It is the first formal
partnership between the three groups to address the pressing challenges facing the healthcare system in urban settings in Ontario. The partnership
is the result of an Ontario-supported push for innovative collaboration on education, clinical placements and research within the industry.
"Given the close physical proximity of all three institutions in the downtown core and the focus on improving urban healthcare, the partnership was a natural fit," said Robert Luke, Assistant Vice-President, Research and Innovation, George Brown College. "We're pleased to collaborate with our partners and take advantage of significant opportunities to engage in the planning of education, research and clinical initiatives."
Initial discussions resulted in a multi-staged approach designed to uncover key initiatives in the healthcare industry that could be considered a priority for each of the institutions. The three over-arching areas of focus that were identified during the formative stages of this partnership include:
- The Education Committee.
- The Research Committee.
- St. Michael's Hospital's (SMH) New Family Practice Health Clinic Investigation Team - designed to investigate how Ryerson University and George Brown can support the new SMH-led Family Practice Health Clinic and within the inter-professional realms of the Family Practice of the 21st Century.
"The strength of this partnership and keys to success in achieving the resulting research and educational outcomes reside in applying efficiency, collaboration and practical innovation to the current issues we face in the urban healthcare context," said Dr. Anastasios (Tas) Venetsanopoulos, Vice President, Research and Innovation, Ryerson University. "These translate directly into faster and more accurate delivery, higher cost savings, and a better and more holistic understanding of the needs of our urban community."
Focusing on the health promotion and chronic disease management aspect of the partnership, the SMH-led Family Practice Health Clinic of the 21st Century will see clinicians assist patients with the behavioural changes necessary for optimal clinical outcomes. Central to this approach is the use of new media to enhance communication between patients and clinicians, and the development of supporting resources (e.g. books, blogs and websites) to help inform patients and ensure compliance with disease management.
"St. Michael's is delighted to partner with Ryerson and George Brown to explore the best possible ways to define how family practice
teams of the 21st century will provide the best patient care possible," said Robert J. Howard, MD, CEO of St. Michael's Hospital.
Marking the first concrete result of the collaboration between the institutions, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has allocated funding to George Brown College to conduct industry-responsive applied research supported by Ryerson University and St. Michael's Hospital. The NSERC funding is part of a government-driven pilot program designed to demonstrate the important role colleges and universities play in augmenting the innovative capacity and competitiveness of local industries. This initiative brings together expertise across the natural, social and health sciences - as well as engineering and humanities - to address practical, business-oriented problems.
About St. Michael's Hospital
St. Michael's Hospital is a large and vibrant teaching hospital in the heart of Toronto. The physicians and staff of St. Michael's Hospital provide compassionate care to all who walk through its doors and outstanding medical education to future healthcare professionals in more than 23 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care and care of the homeless and vulnerable populations in the inner city are among the Hospital's recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research at St. Michael's Hospital is recognized, respected and put into practice around the world. Founded in 1892, the Hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information, please visit the St. Michael's Hospital website.
About George Brown College
With nine out of 10 graduates getting jobs within six months of graduation, Toronto's George Brown College has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. From its three main campuses located across the downtown core, George Brown offers more than 150 programs across a wide variety of professions. Students can earn diplomas, post-graduate certificates, industry accreditations, apprenticeships and four-year bachelor degrees. More than 20,000 students attend the College (full-time equivalent) with about 60,000 registered with the George Brown College School of Continuing Education.
About Ryerson University
Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative career-focused education, offering close to 100 PhD, master's, and undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Arts; the Faculty of Communication & Design; the Faculty of Community Services; the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science; and the Ted Rogers School of Management. Ryerson University has graduate and undergraduate enrollment of over 25,000 students. With more than 68,000 registrations annually, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education. For more information, please visit the Ryerson University website.
Return to: Research and Innovation at George Brown College
Revised:
November 26, 2009
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