Exploring a healthier community together
By: Katie Porter, director of Research Administration, Hamilton Health Sciences
At Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), research isn’t something that happens on the outskirts of health care. Health care and research come together to provide the best care for our patients. Our researchers are our health care professionals – doctors, nurses, therapists, even students. The patients and families we serve aren’t just at the heart of the care we provide, they’re at the heart of our research explorations.
Our desire to discover runs deep. Many of us live in the communities we serve. We understand the unique health challenges we face and recognize that we all have a vested interested in discovering alternative treatments and therapies. The vision that together, we can create a healthier future for our families, friends and neighbours inspires us. We are finding ways to change health outcomes in our community from child and youth mental health to mobility in older adults. Here are two examples.
The vision that together, we can create a healthier future for our families, friends and neighbours inspires us.
For the first time our researchers are working with clinical staff and physicians, patients, families and care givers to explore ways to improve the delivery of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services. We’re trying to gain a better understanding of what contributes to healthier outcomes for patients with ASD by utilizing the data already collected. Determining how best to navigate ASD services leads to improved care and ultimately provides these kids with more opportunities to become active members of our community in the future.
We’re also exploring ways to ensure our older patients stay healthier longer as our population ages. We’re bringing our best minds into their homes to make their lives better from day one. Our researchers are providing one-on-one support on medication management, nutritional coaching, and physical activity as well as moral support. Patients speak highly of the relationships they form with the research team, and the positive impact they’ve had on their daily lives. For one patient, the study helped him return to his love of skating.
Research is not about numbers, it’s about people.
Research is not about numbers, it’s about people. We’re looking for answers to the questions our patients and our communities are asking. Working with our patients to explore a healthier future for all of us is what makes it to rewarding.