Hotel Dieu Hospital Kingston Research Institute Strategic Plan for 2015-2019: Research Excellence in Ambulatory Care and Health Care Systems
Introduction Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) rolled out its Strategic Plan in 2010 which mapped out six directions to steer it to clinical and organizational excellence as an academic ambulatory care centre. One of these six strategic directions involves the development of a strong research center, as follows: Advancing Research and Education: We will provide leadership in ambulatory care education and research by: developing a Research Institute to establish a strong foundation for our hospital s leadership and excellence in the field of ambulatory care focusing on innovation, collaboration, knowledge-translation and scholarly activities across disciplines, professions, and institutions developing internal resources and infrastructure to facilitate a robust and sustainable research program Advancing the culture of inquiry and education in the field of ambulatory health care will be the driving force behind a new Research Institute, which will chart the way for enhanced patient care and clinical expertise. Dr. Dale Mercer, Chief of Staff (2009-2014) This strategic plan is based on extensive consultations with both internal and external partners. Context Broad expansion of ambulatory care infrastructure in the province and indeed nationally will lead to a significant focus on ambulatory care - based research and education initiatives. Further, there is increased focus on health care systems research. Hotel Dieu Hospital is poised to launch a new and innovative program in these emerging and increasingly important areas. Hotel Dieu Hospital has an opportunity to work with our partners, Kingston General Hospital (KGH), Providence Care (PC), and Queen s University Faculty of Health Sciences in creating an ambulatory care and health care systems-based Research Institute designed to meet the needs of Kingston researchers. To this end the HDH Research Institute (RI) and its board are committed to participating fully in the creation of an overarching organization, involving HDH, KGH, PC, and Queen's University.
1 Mission In support of the mission of Hotel Dieu Hospital, the Research Institute will develop and foster patient-oriented research and innovation by promoting a culture of research and developing a supporting infrastructure. Vision To be a leader in multidisciplinary research focusing on ambulatory care, health systems and knowledge exchange. Guiding Principles We will conduct research that harmonizes with the mission, vision and values of Hotel Dieu Hospital. We will conduct research consistent with the highest ethical standards. We will foster and promote collaborative and interdisciplinary research. We will actively promote knowledge translation so as to broadly share the results of innovation and discovery. The Research Institute is committed to: Innovation in ambulatory care and health systems research A culture of scientific inquiry that aligns with patient and family-centered care and education Collaboration across disciplines, institutions and sectors Improving the patient s healthcare experience and quality. We will do this: By focusing on two (2) strategic priorities and six (6) enabling directions: Strategic Priorities: To improve and transform care delivery by focusing on health systems-level research in ambulatory care and the role of HDH in maximizing health care outcomes at each level To build on existing strengths and support emerging research potential in ambulatory care Enabling directions towards success in our priorities: Establishing a profile within the southeast Ontario region Building capacity by increasing external funding Developing partnerships to enable collaborative research Moving research into practice Transparency and openness through the engagement of researchers Supportive infrastructure that enhances research and knowledge translation Strategic Priority 1: Improve and transform care delivery by focusing on health systems-level research in ambulatory care and the role of HDH in maximizing health care outcomes at each level By engaging clinicians in research activity, we hope to produce findings that are relevant to everyday practice.
2 Strategic Priority 2: Building on our strengths (existing) and supporting emerging research (potential) Hotel Dieu Hospital Research Institute: Strategic Strengths Gastrointestinal Disease (GIDRU) Established Strategic Strengths Emerging Strategic Strengths Potential Strategic Strengths Dementia Care Neuroscience/Clinical Research Lab Orthopedics/HMRL GAIT Lab Ophthalmology Chronic Disease Management Pediatrics Infectious Diseases Hep C, HIV/AIDS Health Systems/Service Research Mental Health: Outpatient Military & Veterans Health (CIMVHR) Dermatology It is important that the Research Institute focus on established strengths and emerging opportunities for growth. We will develop the infrastructure to support the areas of strength and leverage existing knowledge to ensure the development of emerging and potential areas of research. Enabling Direction 1: Raising our profile Building awareness to increase the profile of our research, our scientists and our achievements. We will do this by: Developing communication tools to publicize our achievements. Hosting research aimed at showcasing HDH research to the public. Enhancing our scientific profile by supporting publications in high impact journals and presentations at scientific meetings. Enabling Direction 2: Building capacity by increasing external funding including industry In the highly competitive research environment, our researchers must be supported in order to optimize their success. We will do this by: Encouraging HDH researchers to take advantage of the Queen s FHS internal review process prior to grant submission. Ensuring access to grant writing resources. Encouraging and facilitating collaborations in order to stimulate new partnerships and research networks. Encouraging clinicians to access industry grants as well as matching funds from all sources.
3 Assisting researchers to create new grants, thereby generating additional research revenues for reinvestment into the mission of HDH. Enabling Direction 3: Developing partnerships to enable collaborative research Maintain and enhance our existing relationships while building new ones that will allow us to achieve our strategic goals. We will continue to cultivate our relationship with the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) Research Institute, the developing Providence Care (PC) Research Institute, Queen s University Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen s University Family Health Team as well as medical departments within HDH. We will seek to develop and sustain new partnerships with the SouthEast Local Health Integration Network and its member hospitals, the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health Units and other system partners such as the SouthEast Community Care Access Centre and St. Lawrence College. We will identify and engage new academic researchers so that they will work with HDH staff and clinicians in developing research projects and grants. We will participate fully in the Joint Venture led by Ernst & Young LLP for the creation of an umbrella organization, involving HDH, KGH, PC, and Queen's University Enabling Direction 4: Moving research into practice We place a high priority on promoting knowledge translation and transfer. We will actively promote collaborations between academics, researchers and clinicians. We will develop a network of knowledge experts. We will provide logistical assistance for deployment of translational research projects in the ambulatory care setting at HDH. Enabling Direction 5: Transparency and openness through the engagement of researchers We will make every effort to seek input from researchers/stakeholders in the development and functioning of the RI. We will have regular meetings with key researchers and stakeholders. We will empower researchers by having an open door policy to address challenges Enabling Direction 6: Supportive infrastructure that enhances research and knowledge translation We will build a supportive infrastructure by: Developing a culture of research and inquiry, where research is valued by all. Streamlining HDH policies that affect research project initiation. Developing and maintaining the infrastructure of the Research Institute as an independent corporation, linked to HDH through a strong working relationship.
4 Conclusion As Hotel Dieu Hospital moves forward and realizes its goal of becoming a recognized center of excellence in academic ambulatory care, research in support of the mission and values of HDH will be a key component. By strategically investing in research that focuses on ambulatory care and health systems and strengthening existing research, we will be able to discover better ways of treating and caring for patients and their families. Key to our success will be a robust infrastructure and supportive research partnerships.