Health Systems Research & Development Centre
The Centre was recently established at UL. Its mission is to make
a significant contribution to theory and practice in health care
policy, organisation and the delivery system. The fields of
enquiry encompass health policy, systems and services research.
The range of proposed activities is both collaborative and
inter-disciplinary.
Health services research focuses on operation and modes of
delivery. Health systems research is also concerned with the
efficiency and effectiveness of the health system as an integral
part of the overall process of socio-economic development. As a
philosophy it enables timely and policy relevant research, has
higher potential to cross the R&D divide and emphasises the
involvement and engagement of key stakeholders. At a systems
level it recognises and addresses complexity associated with
interventions.
Download brochure (pdf).
Aims and Values
The aims are to:
- contribute to evidence –based policy and practice in an evolving health care system and
- generate a practice –based research ethos.
To achieve these aims the Centre will:
- support and undertake collaborative and inter-disciplinary research in the areas of health care policy, practice and delivery system(s);
- contribute conceptually and substantively to the understanding of the contextual and systemic dimensions affecting health and illness;
- develop research methodologies and evaluation strategies for Health Services/Systems Research;
- facilitate and promote the dissemination of best practice in healthcare policy, systems and practice;
- facilitate networking with national and international organisations in the health research area;
- support and facilitate health professional education and practice.
The underpinning principles of the Centre are to contribute to:
- improvements in the quality, equity, accountability ,
patient-centeredness and equality of healthcare and outcomes.
- The economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public health
delivery systems.
The primary outcomes of the research are to contribute to theory and practice and support system performance by identifying determinants and/or inhibitors of effectiveness through e.g. pluralist research strategies and, enable the further development of people, strategy, structure and process. This will facilitate translation and dissemination mechanisms throughout the system and its practice settings.
The guiding values of the Centre's Research Programme will be integrity, thoroughness and transparency, respect for subjects and adherence to ethical guidelines.
The complementary strands in the governance structure are an Advisory Group consisting of representatives of the Dept. of Health & Children, the HSE and UL,
an internal Committee representing disciplines and departments, an external Academic Advisory Group (Health Systems and Social Medicine) and an emerging stakeholder group based on domains of activity.
