A new research role is set to strengthen the partnership between the NHS and academia, as well as turbocharge the digital transformation agenda.
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has teamed up with the University of Worcester to support a new research fellow post that will explore how beneficial the CO-LAB is to patients.
The ICB’s CO-LAB was opened last July and came in as the first community hospital-based innovation hub – it gives the NHS, local businesses, schools and universities the opportunity to meet technology providers and better understand how the world of digital can transform patient care.
Catharine Rose has been appointed to the research fellow post for the next 15 months, with one of the first projects set to centre around how a remote monitoring pod can support telemedicine training for students and staff alike.
Rose, who has a PhD in health psychology, will also look at how a local cancer support group is using the CO-LAB to facilitate post-treatment recovery.
The close links fostered during this partnership will enable healthcare students to visit the CO-LAB and familiarise themselves with the latest technologies, ultimately better equipping them for their future NHS careers.
College director of research and knowledge exchange at the University of Worcester, Eleanor Bradley, said: “The University of Worcester shares common interests with NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB, in that both organisations are committed to tackling health inequalities and helping people live well and stay well in their local community.”
Bradley, who is also a health psychology professor continued: “This agreement fosters a closer working relationship between us and will also enable healthcare students to gain first-hand experience of the technologies they will be using in their future careers in the health service.”
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