DOHA: Evidence gained from health services research should and can be translated into better healthcare, Gary Needle, Chief of Planning and Performance, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) told a conference on the development of health services research and their implications in Qatar.
“How to best utilise our infrastructure and resources remains a constant question in a rapidly growing society and the answer almost invariably requires detailed study and academic enquiry,” he said.
“The results of studies and in-depth research help those of us engaged in delivering healthcare to better develop new and more refined ways of working with patients, their families and communities, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and patient experience,” he added.
The one-day symposium highlighted the current state of research activity in Qatar, the growing movement towards developing stronger research ties across multiple organisations and healthcare disciplines and further an understanding among healthcare experts about the importance of health services research as a means of recommending improvements in healthcare delivery to patients and families.
Professor David Thompson from Australian Catholic University spoke about how the accumulation of research has led to a better understanding of the rehabilitation needs of cardiac patients.
Dr Rachel Churchill from Bristol University discussed how the use of evidence discovered through research can inform policy and practices in a health setting.
Local experts from Academic Health System (AHS) partners HMC, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Primary Health Care Corporation and Qatar University discussed how research into the delivery of health services could be used to improve the overall efficiency of the country’s public healthcare system.
Professor Ibrahim Al Janahi, Executive Director, Medical Research, HMC, spoke about research challenges faced by Qatar.
“The patient journey through the healthcare system, which includes everything from how they make an appointment through to the treatment they receive, are key focus areas of health services research in Qatar.
“Scrutinising health services using evidence-based research is a vital step towards improving the overall provision of healthcare for the population of the country and is something that requires ongoing collaboration in areas within the health industry.
“Through quality research and analysis, we can determine how and where to make those improvements,” he said.
The Peninsula
