Academic Health Science Systems Symposium: The Foundation of Slaintecare
UCD Health Affairs, Chief Academic Officers, Group Chief Executive Officers & Community Health Organisation Chief Officers of Ireland hosted joint interactive symposium at Farmleigh House on May 18th 2023. Presentations and discussion focused on how to implement integrated academic healthcare for the Irish population (Sláintecare) using an AHSS model in a common goal of outstanding healthcare.
From the left: Tony Canavan (CEO Saolta University Healthcare Group), Prof Anthony O'Regan ( Saolta University Healthcare Group CAO & Chair of the National CAO Group), Breda Crehan- Roche (CAO Community Healthcare West), Prof Hilary Humphreys ( RCSI Hospital Group CAO), Eilish Hardiman ( CAO Children's Health Ireland), Mary Day (HSE National Director for Acute Operations), Prof Owen Smith (Children’s Health Ireland CAO), Prof Helen Whelton (South West Hospital Group CAO), Prof Dermot Kelleher (Dean of Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia), Prof Tim Lynch (Irish East Hospital Group CAO), Martina Queally (CAO Community Healthcare East), Trevor O'Callaghan (CEO Dublin Midlands Hospital Group), Prof Martina Hennessy (Dublin Midlands Hospital Group CAO), Mellany McLoone (CAO HSE), Prof David Burn (Director of Newcastle Health Innovation Partners, Pro-Vice Chancellor Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University), Prof John Higgins (CEO South/Southwest Hospital Group), Prof Paul Bourke (University Limerick Hospital Group CAO), Prof Cathal Kelly (RCSI)
Sláintecare presents a unique opportunity to foster deeper alignment between Irish Healthcare and partners in education, clinical research, informatics, innovation and where relevant, industry. Implementation of Sláintecare is best achieved using an Academic Health Science System (AHSS) model where teaching, training, research and innovation are integrated into all aspects of clinical care to improve patient outcomes and provide added value to the State.
The enthusiasm during the symposium was illustrated by the wide engagement across healthcare, research, education and patient groups.
Keynotes were presented by:
- Professor David Burn, Director of Newcastle Health Innovation Partners/Academic Health Science Centre and Pro-Vice Chancellor Newcastle University Medical School
- Professor Dermot Kelleher, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
- Professor Landon King, Executive Vice Dean, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA.
- Prof Paul Whelton, Show Chwan Professor of Global Public Health at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Each session inlcuded focused panel discussions involving important stakeholders ranging from policy makers to patient representatives.
From the left: Prof Anthony O'Regan ( Saolta University Healthcare Group CAO & Chair of the National CAO Group), Dr Avril Keenan (CEO of Heath Research Charities) Professor Orla Feely (President of University College Dublin) Dr Colm Henry (Chief Clinical Officer HSE)Professor John O’Halloran ( President of University College Cork)
Professor Burn noted that “social care, public health, medicine and allied health care are stronger together and have impacts far beyond what may have been achieved in silos”.
Ms Eilísh Hardiman, Chair of the Hospital Group CEOs forum stated that “a true Academic Health Sciences System elevates the university / health system relationship to a deep level of integration and working that is unashamedly driven to deliver better health services for our population by embedding education, training, research and innovation in healthcare’.
According to the chair of the National Chief Academic Officer Group Prof Anthony O’Regan “the rollout of Slaintecare provides a unique opportunity to continue to build a world-class healthcare system underpinned by education, research and innovation. We must aim synergize the amazing work across many sectors into a common integrated system”.
From the left: Prof Owen Smith (Children’s Health Ireland CAO),Prof Martina Hennessy (Dublin Midlands Hospital Group CAO), Michelle Ryan (Saolta University Health Care Group), Prof Helen Whelton (South West Hospital Group CAO), Prof Anthony O'Regan ( Saolta University Healthcare Group CAO & Chair of the National CAO Group), Tara Cahill (Saolta University Health Care Group), Prof Hilary Humphreys (RCSI Hospital Group CAO), Kasia Gaughan (UCD Health Affairs), Miriam McCarthy (University of Limerick, UL Hospitals Group), Anna Toner (University College Cork), Prof Tim Lynch (Irish East Hospital Group CAO), Suzanne McMahon (UCD Health Affairs), Prof Paul Bourke (University Limerick Hospital Group CAO)
The primary aspiration of an AHSS is to integrate teaching, training, research and innovation into all aspects of clinical and social care is to promote better patient care in hospitals and community services, promote excellence in interdisciplinary research, promote team science and educate and retain health professionals and leaders for the future. This strategic and operational alignment will increase incorporation of the best basic, applied, clinical and discovery-orientated science and research for the benefit of the patient.
This important Farmleigh symposium provides a real opportunity for debate and reflection on how to implement Sláintecare and provide Ireland with a world class health system for the Irish patient.
To learn more about Chief Academic Officer Group visit: CAO.