Representatives from different health fields across the region attended the biennial Echuca Regional Health Research and Innovation Symposium. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
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JORDAN TOWNROW
Echuca Regional Health has again welcomed health industry professionals for its Research and Innovation Symposium, which is held every two years.
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On Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20, a range of speakers discussed topics from across the field, including maternity health, pharmacy, mental health, staff retention and artificial intelligence.
Research was shared through posters and oral presentations.
Presenters came from regional and metro backgrounds, with local representation from ERH, Kyabram District Health Service, Cohuna District Hospital and Rochester Elmore District Health Service.
Echuca Regional Health director of pharmacy Brianna Leat speaks about the ‘Impact of an advanced pharmacy technician role in a regional hospital’.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
“This is our third Research and Innovation Symposium that we’ve held at ERH,” ERH improvement and innovation advisor Liz McKeown said.
“We open it up to anyone who’s done an interesting quality improvement project, some research — either for a poster presentation or an oral presentation.
“It’s to showcase all the great work that our small organisations are doing to improve our quality of care that we’re giving our patients.”
ERH director of education, training and research Bec Broadbent emphasised the shared approach regional health services had taken.
“A common theme of the presenters has been about: how do we work together collaboratively?” she said.
“How do we make sure that research and quality improvement leads to what the community wants and needs?
“Then, that as outcomes or an obvious benefit of change for our health service because of the research and partnership.”
Kyabram District Health Service primary health manager Ashley Watson talks about ‘Giving new opportunities and options to small rural communities’.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Four keynote speakers spoke over the two days, including La Trobe University Violet Vines Marshman professor of rural health research Leigh Kinsman, who spoke on Wednesday, March 19 about ‘Why the business of dealing with rural inequity is just good business’.
RMIT University School of Computing Technologies executive dean Professor Karin Verspoor also presented on Wednesday, March 19, on the topic ‘Artificial intelligence in health care: opportunities and challenges’.
Posters were among the presentations submitted for the symposium.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
On Thursday, March 20, Safer Care Victoria executive director of improvement Janelle Devereux spoke about ‘Safer together, Victoria’s patient safety improvement program’, and ERH senior dentist Dr Anjali Ragade presented on ‘Clinicians as researchers: challenges and opportunities in rural settings’.
“I’ve been so incredibly impressed by the innovation and improvement happening here, but also in partnership with other health services across the broader region,” Ms Devereux said.
“It aligns with some key priorities for state government and Safer Care Victoria, looking to improve care and outcomes in a more sustainable way.
“I feel like this region is leading the way ... other parts of the state could learn from what’s happening here.”
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