Today, the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, joined the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, federal Minister of Health to announce a combined investment of $9.7 million for patient-oriented research at Memorial University.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing just over $4.8 million dollars to support the ongoing work of the SPOR Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (SUPPORT) Unit.
Patient-oriented research refers to a continuum of research that engages patients as partners, focuses on patient-identified priorities, and improves patient outcomes. This research aims to apply the knowledge generated to improve health care systems and practices. It produces information for decision makers and health care providers that will improve health care practices, therapies and policies. It also ensures that new and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are applied, when and where needed.
The province’s SPOR SUPPORT Unit’s lead program, Quality of Care NL, played a key role as secretariat for the Health Accord NL, which is focused on improving health outcomes and health care for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
More information can be found in the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“Our government is committed to finding innovative solutions to help reimagine health care delivery in our province. By investing in Newfoundland and Labrador’s SPOR SUPPORT Unit, we will support new and better ways to effectively support health care delivery, further development of health policies, and improve patient care. This homegrown health research is an exciting initiative, as it will not only help to strengthen health care system right here at home, but across the country as well.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“To provide Canadians with high-quality health care, we need research evidence to tell us what works. Patients, caregivers, and families help get at this evidence by adding their lived experience to the research process. Through this collaboration with the provinces and territories, we are strengthening health care systems across the country and improving patient care for Canadians.”
Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health, Government of Canada
“I want to congratulate Memorial University of Newfoundland and all those involved in the SUPPORT Unit for their hard work and dedication to building a culture of patient-oriented in this province. You have made a direct impact on improving patient care. I am looking forward to seeing what you accomplish in this next phase of your operations.”
Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Labour, Government of Canada
“Our work at CIHR has made patient-oriented research no longer just a concept in Canada; patients and researchers are working together to produce measurable improvements in service delivery and health care practice across the country. Patient-oriented research wouldn’t be where it is today without the ongoing support and contributions from all SPOR-funded entities and their steadfast commitment to patient-oriented research in each of their jurisdictions.”
Dr. Michael J. Strong
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
“Our programs act as a catalyst within a learning health system – a structure in which all players work together to generate knowledge and continually improve care. While great strides have been made by SPOR SUPPORT Units and researchers across the country, system and culture change takes time. We are so pleased to have received this funding that will help us develop a sustainability plan and continue our work building a culture of patient-oriented research in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Dr. Brendan Barrett
Principal Investigator, NL SUPPORT
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Learn more
Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)
Newfoundland and Labrador SPOR SUPPORT Unit
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Media contacts
Nancy Hollett
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-6554, 327-7878
nancyhollett@gov.nl.ca
Marie-France Proulx
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Information on SPOR SUPPORT Units
- SPOR is a pan-Canadian coalition of the Federal Government, provinces, territories, philanthropic organizations, academic institutions, and health charities with the goal of achieving better patient outcomes through patient-oriented research.
- SPOR SUPPORT Units are patient-oriented research centres in the provinces and territories that improve patient outcomes by enabling equitable access to data for health research, applying knowledge to improve health care practices, systems, and patient outcomes, providing training to conduct and use patient-oriented research, and engaging patients as active partners throughout the entire research process.
- There are SPOR SUPPORT Units located in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, the Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon. Discussions are underway to establish a SUPPORT Unit in Nunavut.
- The Government of Canada, through CIHR, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are providing an investment of more than $9.7M over five years to help the NL SUPPORT continue its important work.