U of S and Saskatoon Health Region cracks Top 40 for the first time

Saskatoon Health Region and University of Saskatchewan are celebrating a milestone when it comes to patient-oriented research.

Saskatoon Health Region ranked 35th in the list of top 40 research hospitals published by Research Infosource. The Region was also recognized for leading the country in growth in health research income.

This is the first time Saskatoon Health Region has made the list and is the result of a collaborative approach adopted with the University of Saskatchewan in creating a joint research and innovation office. The office has provided support to initiatives examining new patient care programs, technologies and drugs, generating evidence to improve health outcomes. Some of these improvements include best practices to reduce MRSA bacterial infections in hospitals and long term care homes and development of evaluation tools for programs such as the Hospitalist initiative at St. Paul's Hospital.

"Building research partnerships among health service providers, policy-makers, academics, government, and industry is critical to our success," says Beth Horsburgh, vice-president of research and innovation for Saskatoon Health Region/associate vice-president of health research at the University of Saskatchewan. "We have more than 360 ongoing clinical research studies in the Health Region and 80 per cent involve U of S researchers, so it just makes good sense to work together on integrating research with effective health-care delivery to benefit patients, families and communities."

Research has proven to be an important tool in assisting health-care providers in finding more effective ways of looking after clients and patients. Another example is the eight-bed Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research based at Saskatoon City Hospital which is funded by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, the U of S, Saskatoon Health Region, and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.

"By bringing together the engagement of our patients, families and communities, the knowledge needs of our health-care system, and the skills and passion of our research community, we are improving patient safety, our culture of evidence-based practice, and Canada's health-care system," says Maura Davies, president and CEO of Saskatoon Health Region. "It is another example of how we are putting the patient first."

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Linda WalkerMedia Relations ConsultantSaskatoon Health Region306-655-3476 Laura HermanCommunications, College of MedicineUniversity of Saskatchewan306-966-6059
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