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The iRaise teams successfully complete the programme on innovations’ adoption
6 January 2022
In 2021 EHMA collaborated on the implementation of the iRaise project, a hands-on training programme for healthcare organisations promoting innovation to boost demand-driven, effective and sustainable adoption of breakthrough digital solutions. The 2021 edition of iRaise concluded after 10 weeks of training, including meetings with mentors and industry experts. The teams who undertook the training program were provided with knowledge and skills for the adoption of innovations in the specific context of their healthcare organisations. Health managers are crucial players in the adoption of innovations. At EHMA, we were proud to contribute to the development of the training courses so that they can best address health management needs.
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On 26 November, the 2021 edition of the iRaise programme concluded with a Closing Ceremony. Over the course of 10 weeks, from September to November, the iRaise lecturers and mentors worked closely with the participating teams to provide them with the knowledge and skills essential for the adoption of innovation in healthcare. As part of the programme, the participating teams also met with industry experts.
iRaise is a hands-on training programme for professionals from healthcare organisations promoting innovation to boost demand-driven, effective and sustainable adoption of innovative digital solutions. The programme targets multidisciplinary teams of professionals involved in innovation promotion and adoption within healthcare organisations, aiming to increase their team skills and knowledge on innovating healthcare processes.
8 multidisciplinary teams, adding up to 33 trainees, participated in this year’s programme edition, which kicked off on 18 September. During 9 training sessions, the iRaise lecturers outlined the key concepts and steps applying to innovation adoption in healthcare. The participating teams gained practical skills and knowledge needed to define an unmet need, frame a potential solution, and identify adequate vehicles to address the unmet need.
Apart from the training sessions, the participating teams also had weekly mentoring sessions with iRaise mentors. The iRaise mentors were there to support the teams and keep up with their progress. The mentoring sessions helped the participating teams get a better grasp of the knowledge acquired and a better understanding of how to apply the key iRaise learnings in their healthcare settings.
An integral part of this year’s learning programme were breakfast meetings with I3A industry experts. These meetings presented the iRaise students with a unique opportunity to interact with relevant actors at the industry level and learn from their experience in adoption of innovation. The industry experts the iRaise students met are:
- Dr Lluís Blanch, consultant at the Critical Care Centre of the Hospital Parc Taulí in Sabadell (Barcelona)
- Carlos Sisternas, Director of Fenin Catalunya
- Carmen Aláez, Deputy Secretary General of Fenin Catalunya
- Javier Selva, Technical Advisor of Fenin Catalunya
- Anais González Iglesias, from GE Healthcare
The programme concluded on 26 November with a Closing Ceremony during which the iRaise participating teams presented their work. The closing ceremony also featured a keynote speech by Dr Marc Van Den Bulcke, Head of Service at Sciensano.
EHMA is one of the 7 partners in the programme. We were responsible for recruiting programme participants and promoting the programme and its values through dissemination and communication work. Additionally, our Policy Officer, Ms Emmi Weller, was one of the iRaise mentors in this year’s edition of the programme.
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I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.
Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy
Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.
Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria
I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.
Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta
EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.
Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK
Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.
Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary
As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.
Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal
Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.
Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK
Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.
Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain