Supporting Discovery and Inquiry: A Canadian Hospital's Approach to Building Research and Innovation Capacity in Point-of-Care Health Professionals

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Building capacity for research and innovation among point-of-care health professionals can translate into positive outcomes from the organization, staff, and patient perspective. However, there is not a widely accepted framework in place across academic hospitals to guide this work and measure impact. This article outlines one Canadian hospital's approach and provides a blueprint with appropriate indicators as a starting point and guide for organizations looking to develop and implement a practice-based research and innovation strategy. Methods: An adapted framework was utilized to measure and track progress toward achievement of research and innovation strategic goals. The framework outlines key domains for research and capacity development and appropriate metrics. Data are reported from a 4-year period (2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018). Results: The evaluation of the practice-based research and innovation portfolio identified several important factors that contribute to the success of embedding this strategy across a large academic teaching institution. These include using a collaborative leadership model, leveraging linkages, partnerships, and collaborations, and recognizing the academic contributions of health professionals engaging in research and innovation. Conclusions: Engaging those who provide care directly to patients and families in research and innovation is critical to ensuring high-quality health outcomes and patient experience. Creative and innovative funding models, collaborative leadership, and partnerships with key stakeholders to support research and innovation are needed to ensure sustainability.

Re: Matulis JC, Manning DM. Supporting the Pursuit of Quality Improvement Publication: What Your Organization Can Do Now. Qual Manag Health Care. May 27, 2022. doi:10.1097/QMH.0000000000000377

“…1 At our organization, a large academic teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we have integrated a Practice-Based Research and Innovation (PBRI) portfolio within professional practice to foster, build, and support a culture of research and scholarship (including quality improvement [QI]) across the health professions. 2 As part of our strategic priority plan, our program has committed to purposefully establish a priority on knowledge dissemination-more specifically, to adopt a knowledge-to-action approach that conceptualizes knowledge translation as encompassing knowledge synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and adoption. As part of the operational activities to support this priority, our team has cocreated activities mirroring the framework proposed within the Driver Diagram.…”

“…We are thrilled to read with great enthusiasm the commentary by Matulis and Manning, titled “Supporting the Pursuit of Quality Improvement Publication: What Your Organization Can Do Now.”1 At our organization, a large academic teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we have integrated a Practice-Based Research and Innovation (PBRI) portfolio within professional practice to foster, build, and support a culture of research and scholarship (including quality improvement [QI]) across the health professions 2. As part of our strategic priority plan, our program has committed to purposefully establish a priority on knowledge dissemination—more specifically, to adopt a knowledge-to-action approach that conceptualizes knowledge translation as encompassing knowledge synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and adoption.…”

Re: Watson H. The Center for Nursing Inquiry: Developing Nurse-Led Inquiry. Qual Manag Health Care. 2022;31(3):149-150.

“…Thank you for sharing the feature “Insights From the Armstrong Institute” by Watson, titled “The Center for Nursing Inquiry; Developing Nurse-Led Inquiry.”1 At our organization, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a large academic teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we have integrated a Practice-based Research and Innovation (PBRI) portfolio within interprofessional clinical practice to develop inquiry and foster curiosity across all the health professions, including nursing, highlighted in a recent article in Quality Management in Healthcare 2…”

“…1 At our organization, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a large academic teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we have integrated a Practice-based Research and Innovation (PBRI) portfolio within interprofessional clinical practice to develop inquiry and foster curiosity across all the health professions, including nursing, highlighted in a recent article in Quality Management in Healthcare. 2 As indicated by Watson, 3 education, supportive leadership, and resources are required to build a culture of inquiry that supports the engagement of our point-ofcare health professionals in evidence-based practice. At our organization, as well as across the hospital system in Canada, led by the Canadian Practice-Based Research Network (CP-BRN), a collective of health care leaders is focused on identifying approaches and leveraging resources to support clinician-led research.…”