The future of health care in Far North Queensland was in focus at symposium showcasing the ideas, partnerships and innovation helping improve care across the region.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) recently hosted its annual Research and Innovation Symposium, bringing together staff, clinicians, researchers and stakeholders to celebrate local innovation and research improving health outcomes across the Far North.
The symposium supports the long-term vision for the Cairns Hospital precinct, with the more than $1 billion Cairns Hospital expansion helping drive its growth as a leading health and innovation hub.
In a first for the event’s 14-year history, the symposium is being held at James Cook University’s new Yeinie Building within the Cairns Hospital precinct.
This year’s event attracted a record 88 abstracts, reflecting the depth of research underway across the region and the strong collaboration between CHHHS, James Cook University (JCU) and other partners.
Topics ranged from tropical health and medicine, chronic disease and ageing, and maternal and child health to therapeutic research, service improvements, workforce innovation and First Nations health equity.
CHHHS Research Director Dr Eddy Strivens said the symposium highlighted the strength of research and innovation in Far North Queensland.
‘The breadth of topics being presented - from new therapies to injury prevention and infectious disease response - shows the real-world relevance of this work for our communities,’ Dr Strivens said.
‘Hosting the symposium in JCU’s new Yeinie Building within the Cairns Hospital precinct highlights the value of co-locating health services, education and research.
‘It creates greater opportunities for collaboration between clinicians, researchers and students, helping us translate ideas into better care for patients and better outcomes for communities across the Far North.’
Dr Strivens said research was vital to delivering a contemporary and responsive health service.
‘As a health service, we have a responsibility not only to provide excellent care today, but to help shape better care for the future,’ he said.
‘Research is one of the most important ways we do that - by asking questions, testing new approaches and building the evidence that will guide tomorrow’s health care.’
He said the Cairns Hospital expansion would further strengthen clinical research by delivering new clinical buildings and expanded services, including a new acute clinical services building, additional inpatient capacity, expanded operating theatres, procedure rooms and contemporary clinical support spaces.
‘These new facilities will create more opportunities for collaboration across specialties, support access to larger and more diverse patient cohorts, and embed research more closely into day-to-day care, teaching and innovation across the hospital precinct,’ Dr Strivens said.
James Cook University Head of Cairns Clinical School Associate Professor Aileen Traves said the symposium was a valuable opportunity to showcase the excellent research being undertaken by clinicians and students in the region.
‘At JCU we are proud to be partnering with CHHHS to continue to grow our locally trained health professional workforce of the future,’ A/Prof Traves said.
‘Ensuring we practise evidence-based medicine and foster a sense of curiosity and ongoing improvement are important to providing our community with the safest quality health care.’
For more information, including the program, head to CHHHS Research and Innovation Symposium