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University of Warwick joins forces with NHS to create new Institute of Digital Healthcare

The University of Warwick has joined forces with NHS West Midlands to create the new Institute of Digitalwmg_idh_logo_rgb.jpg Healthcare, a collaboration aimed at improving people’s health and wellbeing through the use of innovative technologies.

The Institute of Digital Healthcare is a five-year programme based in the new International Digital Laboratory, and includes as founding partners Warwick Manufacturing Group, Warwick Medical School and NHS West Midlands.

By working with both private and public sector organisations, the Institute will deliver real and lasting benefits to patients and the public through the application of innovative digital solutions to a wide range of healthcare scenarios.

The Institute is led by two co-directors, Professor of eHealth Innovation Jeremy Wyatt recruited from Dundee and Professor of Healthcare Technology Christopher James from Southampton. Both professors have a track record of working between informatics, biomedical engineering, computational intelligence, technology assessment and the health and life sciences sectors.

The Institute is tackling a number of healthcare issues, including the use of monitoring and communication devices to support people in their own homes, and improving the communication within and between health and social care teams.

Professor Jeremy Wyatt said: “After many pilot studies, we are now in a position to design and carry out large scale rigorous trials to answer key generic questions about how health systems should use these technologies to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of their services for people with long term conditions. I look forward to working with the local NHS, small businesses and others to generate the evidence that is badly needed to help policy makers, clinicians and patients decide how to invest in and make best use of these new digital healthcare technologies”.

Professor Christopher James said: “The formation of the IDH provides a great opportunity to bring to bear biomedical engineering expertise applied to real-world clinical problems. This unique partnership provides us with insight to design, develop, deploy and evaluate a wide range of healthcare technologies to address a range of healthcare scenarios”

Ian Cumming, Chief Executive, NHS West Midlands said: “This innovative collaboration with the University of Warwick will strengthen the region’s capacity to translate scientific advances into improved public health and patient care. The public are accustomed to using technology in their everyday lives, and are increasingly expecting to use technology in healthcare. Furthermore, innovative ways to deliver medical training will improve the quality and safety of local health services.”

As part of the Institute’s launch, there are a series of international conferences planned over the next few years. The first conference, Advances in Digital Healthcare: Telehealth and Mobile Health, will take place on 7 October. The aims of the first conference are to review research activities and achievement in telehealth and mobile health in the West Midlands and beyond.

The conference will include invited speakers presenting on key aspects of digital healthcare as well as a variety of oral presentations and posters. The event will aim to capture the perspectives of the academic or clinical researcher, technology provider, and user/practitioner, as well as the policy makers.

To find out more about the Institute and the forthcoming series of international conferences, visit www.idh.warwick.ac.uk

Notes to editors
For more information, contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Communications Manager, University of Warwick, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk , 02476 150483, 07824 540863

Tue 14 Sep 2010, 09:45 | Tags: Digital Lifecycle Management Partnerships Research