Posts by: Eimear Galvin

New Irish TB smartphone study, published on world TB day, shows huge HSE cost reduction, increased patient satisfaction and cuts nursing time from up to 60 minutes to 1 minute

  |   By  |  0 Comments

On World TB Day a new  national TB study reveals a smart health option would cost the HSE just 8 per cent (€300) per patient, compared to current system cost of €3,362 per patient, over a six month treatment period. The Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and national TB centre study of 34 patients over 18 months, investigated the use of technology against in person care in Tuberculosis (TB) medication adherence. 16 study participants were on the current Irish standard of care, Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) – a public health nurse must physically witness patients taking medication. 18 participants were randomised to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended UK and US standard of care – Video Observed Therapy (VOT). Patients take TB  medications remotely, recording through their smartphone and sending securely to the clinical team. A total of 3,634 videos were viewed during the study period. Results reveal:

  • Revenue – HSE financial and budget implications: Using the current method of Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) HSE cost is €3,362 per patient over six months, compared to €300 Video Observed Therapy (VOT) for same period.
  • Workflow – HSE resource saved: Time for each public health nurse to carry out DOT in person using hard copy records for one patient was up to 60 minutes. For VOT each patient video was on average one minute at the computer.
  • Clinical pathway – Patient self-management: Seven participants were transferred from DOT to VOT due to inability to comply with DOT citing work hours, or reported undue stress due to DOT Patient sentiment with VOT was extremely positive. VOT empowered continuation of normal work/life routines and taking medications at a time convenient to them. Contrastingly, those on DOT had to be available at set times suitable to the public health nurses, which was disempowering and restrictive..

The study also proved that VOT had higher levels of treatment observation in the first two months of treatment and remained consistently high throughout treatment compared to DOT. VOT can facilitate twice daily dosing at no additional cost. For patients on twice daily dosing on DOT, typically the second afternoon dose in the PM could not be facilitated due to time constraints of the public health nurse. As a result, not all doses were observed which is a significant health risk.

Co- Principal Investigators TB Clinical Nurse Specialist Lorraine Dolan and Prof Ann Marie McLaughlin said:

“TB remains a public health imperative. We are using World TB day to urge the Irish health system to review TB care in Ireland based on the overwhelming results of this new study. VOT is hugely cost saving; time saving across staff teams, supports patient self-management and increased TB patient medication observation per day. Due to resource constraints in Ireland, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre advises selective DOT. However, universal observation is most beneficial to stop the transmission chain and resource is not an issue using VOT.”

Convinced of the efficacy of VOT in TB care, TB Clinical Nurse Specialist, Loraine Dolan, approached HSE and Enterprise Ireland partnership, Health Innovation Hub Ireland, in 2019 to collaborate on the first of its kind research study in Irish TB care. The study site was the National TB Centre, St James’s Hospital, in the outpatient department, incorporating the Respiratory Assessment Unit.

Health Innovation Hub Ireland Manger, Dublin, Eimear Galvin said:

 “Health Innovation Hub Ireland focus is introducing innovative solutions to our health system that meet priority needs of Irish patients. HIHI was thrilled to work with the TB team to deliver this important study, which shows that innovative technology delivers remarkable health system savings, increases treatment access  and supports self-management in the community. The need for this kind of remote care and patient self-management is even more obvious now since Covid-19.”

New cross-border health partnership will support procurement of Irish MedTech SMEs in secondary care

   |   By  |  0 Comments

Tuesday, January 24: Supported by InterTradeIreland’s Synergy initiative, the All-Island MedTech SMEs (AIMS) is being delivered by Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI). AIMs brings together a wide group including SMEs, academics and healthcare procurement, to capture procurement barriers encountered by MedTech SMEs in the Northern Irish and Irish public healthcare systems (Health and Social Care (HSC) and Health Service Executive (HSE) respectively). By involving all stakeholders, AIMs will focus on developing a framework to support procurement and improve MedTech adoption in secondary care across both healthcare systems.

HIHI National Director Dr. Tanya Mulcahy said:

“We have been working with MedTech SMEs for nearly ten years in HIHI. The size and liquidity of companies means that smaller entities are often precluded from the procurement process. AIMS will look at how we can address barriers such as these so that indigenous MedTech can scale and grow and our health systems can choose from a wider pool of innovation.”

Ultimately, the All-Island MedTech SMEs (AIMS) is bringing together Irish SMEs and procurement to develop and propose a model for innovative procurement for all-island MedTech adoption in Irish health services North and South.

AIMS is funded by InterTradeIreland’s Synergy initiative. A cross-border cluster initiative set up by InterTradeIreland, the cross-border trade and business development body. It aims to scale cross border collaboration among SMEs and other players such as universities, third sector organisations and government agencies using cluster and networking supports.

HIRANI Programme Manager Dr Siobhán McGrath said:

“We are ambitious with AIMs because we know that there are solutions to ensure that Irish MedTech SMEs can thrive in the indigenous market. Through creating a network of health stakeholders North and South, capturing common challenges, sharing knowledge in relation to all-island supply chains and procurement channels, we can deliver this.”

 ENDS

 About HIRANI

The Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) is an alliance of universities, health organisations and other industry bodies, established to drive and support ambitious growth in Northern Ireland’s Life & Health Sciences sector. HIRANI is supported by partners including Invest NI, Public Health Agency, HSC Research & Development Office, the Department of Health (DOH) and Department for the Economy (DOE).

About InterTradeIreland

Funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) and the Department for the Economy (DFE) in Northern Ireland, InterTradeIreland has been helping small businesses in Ireland and Northern Ireland explore new cross-border markets, develop new products, processes and services and become investor ready for over two decades.

Based in Newry, services include supports for sales growth and innovation, plus funding and business insights for SMEs across the island who are looking to grow their business.

About Synergy:

Synergy is an InterTradeIreland pilot initiative to elevate the participation of SMEs in innovative networks of entrepreneurs, academics, policy makers, corporates and third sector participants. The aim of the process is to scale cross-border collaboration among SMEs and other players such as universities, third sector organisations and government agencies using cluster and network development supports which increase the reach and impact of programmes resulting in mutual economic benefit to both Ireland and Northern Ireland.

 

HIHI/HSE Health Innovation Champion Scholarships 2021/22  announced

   |   By  |  0 Comments

HIHI/HSE Health Innovation Champion Scholarships 2021/22  announced

Today joint government initiative of the Department of Health and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) announce the seven HSE staff who have been successful in gaining a scholarship place on the third year of the clinician led HIHI and Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation. From 54 applicants these seven, (detail in notes) were identified as high potential change makers in the Irish health system and offered a scholarship place among a class of health industry and health sector students.

A HSE and Enterprise Ireland partnership, HIHI holds a number of places for HSE scholarships, offering reduced fees. The aim is to reach right across levels, grades and disciplines in the health service offering the academic opportunity to all. The 2021/22 cohort of HIHI/HSE Health Innovation Champions come from organisations across the country representing a diverse range of roles, departments and levels. These seven are now part of an action focused learning community of 25, focused on accelerating change within their organisations. Over the 12-month programme, the students will complete eight modules, have access to workshops, resources and events to share challenges and experience, learn from expert guest lecturers.

Focusing on new health solutions, students gain a practical understanding of applying new technologies in healthcare.  Examining the role of health economics, quality improvement and the principles of governance in leading effective, innovative health services is a key learning. The postgraduate course culminates with modules seven and eight focusing on a practical project comprising two phases. Along with their fellow students, HIHI/HSE Innovation Champions will be supported to identify and implement  an innovative solution suitable for  each participant’s workplace, that will have a positive impact in Irish healthcare. As the HSE continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation – new ways of doing things – is  vital to the health sector.

Course Director and HIHI TCD Principal Investigator Prof Seamas Donnelly said:

“Speaking as a clinician on the frontline, I know we need to adjust and reset some approaches in healthcare in Ireland and this postgraduate course is part of that effort. All of our students share a common vision of creating an innovative healthcare system to change the system and improve outcomes for patients.

”The application process for this year’s Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation was the most competitive ever. I want to publicly congratulate the outstanding applicants who have been accepted onto the programme.”

Sustained innovation in Irish healthcare, at an economically and fiscally responsible pace, must be a collaborative effort, requiring input from key players across the health landscape. HIHI and TCD recognise this and deliberately recruit students from both the health sector and the enterprise of health to the postgraduate diploma in healthcare innovation. The Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation is currently delivered entirely online in keeping with government recommendations but aims to return to TCD campus later this year.

Notes

Name Position Organisation
Mícheál Bailey Senior Physiotherapist  in Pain Management and  Musculoskeletal Outpatients St Vincent’s University Hospital
Jacinta Greene Senior Paediatric Dietitian Children Health Ireland

(CHI) at Tallaght
Mary Hickey Quality Improvement Lead Tallaght University Hospital
Arathi Noronha Higher Diploma Midwifery

Practice Co-ordinator

 Coombe Woman and Infants University Hospital
Dr. Síle O Connor Senior Antimicrobial Pharmacist University Hospital Kerry
Dr. Ivan Yu Paediatric Specialist Registrar

(SpR) and National Fellow for Innovation and Change with the Spark Programme

 Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar
Cliodhna Cotter Senior Pharmacist Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) TCD, is seeking to appoint a manager for a specific purpose contract for maternity cover.

   |   By  |  0 Comments

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) TCD, is seeking to appoint a manager for a specific purpose contract for maternity cover.

Operationally, Health Innovation Hub Ireland is run by a consortium of four academic institutions (Led by UCC with partners TCD, NUIG and MTU). Within TCD HIHI is part of the Department of Medicine, with Prof Seamas Donnelly as PI. Reporting to Prof Donnelly, this role manages and runs HIHI TCD, which is based in St James’s hospital. The role provides leadership in HIHI TCD through line management of both EI funded roles and HSE experts assigned to the HIH TCD staff team. The role contributes to the strategic direction of HIHI nationally through close working relationships built with the partner Hubs in the national network in Cork and Galway.

Informal enquiries: National Director Tanya Mulcahy – T.Mulcahy@ucc.ie, HIHI TCD PI – seamas.donnelly@tcd.ie.

Job description: Mat leave cover HIHI TCD Manager JD

Apply: : https://www.tcd.ie/hr/vacancies/ . Competition type: ‘management & administration’

New Irish study proves digitising hygiene documentation and environmental auditing results in annual hospital cost savings and improved hygiene audit scores

   |   By  |  0 Comments

Published today, outcomes of a Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) pilot study of an Irish cloud-based hygiene and facilities software solution Hygiene Audits, which helps clinical sites to track and trace infection risks and measure compliance with HIQA National Standards and World Health Guidelines, revealed multiple benefits to digitising documentation in an Irish hospital setting:

  • Cost savings of €64,735 annually moving from a paper-based system to an automated digital system, per hospital.
  • Clinical benefits were demonstrated through the improvement in hygiene audit scores over the pilot period. The improvement in the hygiene audit scores were validated by adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence (ATP) scores.
  • Efficiencies and timesaving  Using the software system, up to 11 hours saved every day through the automation or digitisation of tasks usually completed using manual or paper based processes.
  • Operational benefits  Auditing processes were 66 per cent faster and the use of photographic evidence enhanced the quality. Management oversight was improved with the functionality for real time review of the hygiene status of locations hospital wide. The instant cleaning and maintenance alerts for all relevant staff significantly improved communication. Digital auditing facilitated real time instant reports and a complete audit trail for compliance.

 Glenda Hahn, CEO Hygiene Audits, said:

 “The software validation we received from the HIHI pilot will help to support key decision makers to see not only the clinical benefits but the significant cost savings that can be achieved by using this technology. HIHI kept us all on track with clear goals for the duration of the project. The clinical and economic benefits were tracked and documented with direction and support from the HIHI.”

Hygiene documentation and environmental hygiene auditing are commonly paper based in Ireland. Paper trails provide a point in time solution with limited oversight and are error prone. In 2019, Glenda Hahn and Yvonne O’Loughlin, two nurses with expertise in infection prevention identified that healthcare managers were burdened with time-consuming paper-based systems for hygiene workflows and spotted the need for automation. In response, they developed technology solution Hygiene Audit.

Using RFID (radio-frequency identification technology) smart tags the system allows care staff to view, record and evidence location-based actions right down to room level. This includes workflows for housekeeping and maintenance that are monitored by a hygiene auditing system.  The Hygiene Audits platform gathers, monitors, and displays the data on a management dashboard. With it, managers are better equipped to quickly identify problem areas and assign the corrective action needed to reduce risks of infection transmission.

Eimear Galvin, HIHI Manager TCD,  said:

“The Covid-19 pandemic reinforced the importance of infection control and effective decontamination of surfaces. Equally, building a strong digital infrastructure in the Irish health service is paramount. Tech solutions such as those provided by Hygiene Audits can move the Irish system forward in both of these areas.”

Claire Phelan, General Manager UPMC Kildare Hospital, said:

“Hygiene Audits brought great visibility to our overall cleaning approach.  We gained great insights and used the data captured and operating dashboards to address gaps in service.”

Hygiene Audits was one of the companies that won the HIHI 2020 annual call. The annual HIHI call brings finalists together for a national dragon’s den style pitch, with the winning products fast tracked into Ireland’s health service for study. HIHI designed a pilot with Hygiene Audits and clinical partner UPMC Kildare Hospital.

Full HIHI case study available here

Health Innovation Hub Ireland launches ‘HIHI Knowledge Network’ – the online toolkit for Irish healthcare innovators

   |   By  |  0 Comments

Today joint government initiative of the Department of Health and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) launched  on-line Knowledge Network to support Irish healthcare innovators. An Enterprise Ireland and HSE partnership, the HIHI Knowledge Network, provides a portfolio of HIHI-developed material, digital programmes, resources, workshops and a formal education programme developed to support Irish healthcare innovators. Fortifying HIHI’s established idea verification, clinical validation and pilot studies.

The HIHI Knowledge Network will support innovators by providing a tool-kit to assist them through the innovation pathway. It will also support an innovation culture within the health system through a suite of knowledge building resources and guidance for healthcare professionals. The four pillars of the HIHI Knowledge Network are:

  • HIHI Innovation Tools: Taking an idea for innovation through to a product used in healthcare systems is challenging and many innovators need support. HIHI Innovation Tools provide this in one space through easily understood, downloadable factsheets covering advice on areas such as regulations, IP, reimbursement, design standards.
  • HIHI Innovation Accelerators: The Knowledge Network offers programmes and workshops to upskill and positively impact the healthcare innovation environment, designed to accelerate both product development skills and health system change.
  • HIHI Innovation Publications: An accessible library of peer review publications of HIIH studies and HIHI research on pertinent health innovation subjects.
  • HIHI Innovation Qualification : The one year Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation is the only innovation course in the country that is clinician designed and actively recruits from both the frontline and health industry. Now entering its third year,  graduates span policy, HSE, primary care, pharma and health tech.

 HIHI National Director Dr Tanya Mulcahy said:

“In HIHI, we believe that Ireland can lead the way in providing innovative ideas and solutions that will directly benefit the Irish healthcare system and across the world. The HIHI Knowledge Network is on-line resource providing access to product development tools, training programmes, workshops and expertise in a single location, building on the in-house expertise of HIHI and leveraging the innovation ecosystem in Ireland.

“It fortifies the work that we already do with health innovators on product and idea development from: clinical connections, focus groups, usability, end user assessments, right through to bespoke validation and pilot studies.”

HIHI Manager TCD Eimear Galvin said:

 “Reflecting the HIHI government departments and unique HSE and Enterprise Ireland partnership, the HIHI Knowledge Network was designed with our two core users in mind – health sector and enterprise of health. The four pillars represent the primary areas of support. The programmes and content offered within these pillars will grow, adapt and update according to HIHI user needs.”

 

 

 

Join the HIHI team – we are hiring

   |   By  |  0 Comments

We are inviting applications for the post – HIHI Innovation Specialist. This new position will work closely with the local HSE Clinical Liaisons and HIHI TCD Manager to coordinate and manage verification, validation and pilot studies with HIHI TCD clients. The post holder will have a leading role in planning, co-ordinating and completing HIHI studies. Central to the role is supporting start-ups and SMEs by brokering collaborative projects with clinical teams across acute and primary care sites to validate technologies and solve challenges in healthcare. Project management skills are crucial in this role. It requires the ability to work on multiple projects across locations, deal with issues and problems that may arise and the ability to work with multidisciplinary teams. The role will also support aspects of the HIHI Knowledge Network activity. A national HIHI initiative to engineer change and put innovation at the centre of Irish healthcare. The HIHI Innovation Specialist will be based in the HIHI TCD hub, St James’s Hospital and may play a role in studies at other site locations if required. Closing date July 22, 12pm. Salary: €49,960, .8FTE (four day). Job description:JD HIHI TCD July 2021

Applicants must have at least three years’ experience in some area of healthcare – industry or innovation or corporate or technology or frontline.

Informal enquirers to HIHI TCD manager, Eimear Galvin – galvinei@tcd.ie

Full information and job spec here: https://www.tcd.ie/hr/vacancies/ . Competition type: ‘management & administration’

 

HIHI welcomes EY global innovation lead Edwina Fitzmaurice at the inaugural ‘Innovation Champions PowWow’

  |   By  |  0 Comments

On July 14 W, the HIHI Innovation Champions attended the inaugural ‘Innovation Champions PowWow’. This is a series of quarterly online discussions designed and delivered exclusively for the graduates of the HIHI/TCD one year Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation. These sessions allow graduates and key figures from the innovation community to connect in an informal setting. The idea is to share experiences, discuss relevant topics, and to pose questions on all aspects of healthcare innovation.

Our expert innovator for Wednesday’s ‘PowWow’ was Edwina Fitzmaurice, Chief Customer Success Officer at EY.  Based in the New York Office, Edwina is responsible for markets strategy and business development for EY’s Advisory consulting business, which covers 140 countries and over 60,000 people. Edwina works with major accounts, navigating the current age of transformative technology and demographic change. She helps companies seize the upside of the opportunities created with disrupting markets.

Edwina’s passion for innovation and value-creation was expressed as she candidly shared her own fascinating career story, which spans tech, finance, the Arts, and consulting. Edwina gave a very motivating talk to the Innovation Champions group about ‘leading with influence’ and breaking down barriers to innovation. The importance of credibility, empathy, and the power of the network was discussed, along with concepts such as culture change in an organisation and the benefits of ‘future-back thinking’.

The group are looking forward to the next ‘Innovation Champions PowWow’ in early October, when they will have expanded to include this year’s graduates in the growing network of HIHI Innovation Champions.

Government Future Tech Challenge 2021

   |   By  |  0 Comments

Making Innovation Real, Ireland’s Public Service Innovation Strategy, requires that the Public Service seek to connect and collaborate across the entire ecosystem to encourage greater scaling of innovation. Additionally, as part of the GovTech agenda, Department of Public Expenditure (DPER) and Reform is keen to engage with industry to understand better how technology can solve problems faced by public service bodies.

The Future Tech Challenge (FTC) is a pilot competition based on a collaboration between Ireland’s Public Service and competition sponsors to drive innovation and technology adoption in order to solve pressing public service challenges. It is being coordinated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in partnership with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

This first pilot challenge will involve focusing engagements with three multinational companies, which will be AWS, Cisco, and IBM.  A further iteration will be launched in Spring 2022 which will focus on collaborations with Small and Medium Enterprises.

The maximum level of prize (comprising of services, products or materials from the participating sponsors) awarded to an individual proposal is to the value of no more than €100,000.

Applicants should select one of the following prize areas that they wish their project to be considered for:

  1. AWS – Cloud Technology, encompassing the full range of AWS cloud services such as compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, internet of things, mobile, security, hybrid, virtual and augmented reality, media, and application development, deployment and management) link to offerings
  2. CISCO – Remote Connectivity, Wireless, Sensor Technology, Internet of Things, Cybersecurity, Hardware and Collaboration Solutions – link to offerings
  3. IBM – Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Machine Learning, Data Governance and Integration –  link to offerings

All applications will go through a first stage evaluation, from which three projects will be selected for each of the three categories listed above. These nine projects will go through a number of weeks mentorship provided by technologists. This will culminate in a pitch event towards the end of Q3/beginning of Q4 of 2021, where the nine projects will pitch to an expert panel and a winner of each category will be selected to receive the prize on offer.

We intend to hold a webinar in early July to explain the process fully in conjunction with the competition sponsors who will elaborate further on the prizes their companies offer.

For more information and to make your application, please visit our website here.

Calling all leaders in healthcare innovation – Applications for HIHI/TCD one year postgraduate diploma in healthcare innovation close this month

   |   By  |  0 Comments

Applications close 30th June 2021. Applications for limited number of HSE scholarship close 16th June 2021.

Over the 12-month programme, students complete eight modules, have access to workshops, resources and events to share challenges and experience, learn from expert guest lecturers.  Focusing on new health solutions, students gain a practical understanding of applying new technologies in healthcare.  Examining the role of health economics, quality improvement and the principles of governance in leading effective, innovative health services is a key learning. The postgraduate course culminates with modules seven and eight focusing on a practical project comprising two phases. Students are supported to identify and implement an innovative solution suitable for their workplace that will have a positive impact in Irish healthcare. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation form part of a  year-on-year a growing network of national Innovation Champions.#

Apply here

If you missed the info and Q&A webinar series, links to watch all four are below. Each session delivered insight from a graduate of a different background , course lecturers and the course tutor.