The Learning Health and Social System

Creating a Learning Health and Social System (LHSS) in Newfoundland and Labrador will embed knowledge generation into daily health and community practice to produce continual improvements in healthcare and social services. In 2022, Health Accord NL’s report: Our Province. Our Health. Our Future. A 10-Year Health Transformation: The Blueprint  identified the Learning Health and Social System (LHSS) as a key pathway to facilitate health and healthcare improvements in Newfoundland and Labrador.  In March, 2023, the team at NLCAHR undertook intensive consultations with provincial health system leaders, university partners, patients, and caregivers who identified that the LHSS as a top priority for health system transformation in the province.  Following from these consultations, the Research Exchange Group on the Learning Health and Social System is envisioned as a forum where people can can share knowledge about creating the LHSS, undertake research in this area, and learn about the perspectives of others:  patients, caregivers, community organizations, university partners from across disciplines, health system partners, and participants working in government.  Ultimately, this group will exchange research and practice knowledge; share lived experience and community knowledge; and build capacity for collaboration and partnerships that will support a Learning Health and Social System in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Group Conveners:

  • Dr. Brendan Barrett, Professor of Medicine (Nephrology), Memorial University, Chief Scientific Officer, NL SUPPORT and Clinical Led, Quality of Care NL
  • Dr. Robert Wilson, Associate Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, Manager of Quality of Care NL, Scientific Lead NL SUPPORT

Meetings & Events

2024

October 17, 2024 | Making Connections: How Can Academic Research Support a Learning Health System in Newfoundland and Labrador? | For the fall kick-off meeting of the Research & Knowledge Exchange on the Learning Health and Social System, our Exchange sought to improve our understanding of the connections we can make between academic researchers and health systems partners to create a Learning Health System, in practical terms, in Newfoundland and Labrador.  For this discussion, we welcomed researchers working across disciplines at Memorial University, research and innovation leaders at NL Health Services, together with NLHS and government decision makers who are developing the Learning Health System.  Meeting Notes on Research Connections Oct 17 2024

March 11, 2024 | Strategic Health Networks | Drawing on examples from the province of Alberta, Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Brendan Barrett discuss the goals and structure of Strategic Health Networks and look at ways to integrate operations, innovation, research and evaluation under a Strategic Health Network model to promote a Learning Health and Social System. Presenters: Dr. Brendan Barrett is a Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) at Memorial University, is the Chief Scientific Officer at NL SUPPORT and the Clinical Lead of Quality of Care NL  Dr. Robert Wilson is an Associate Researcher in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University, the Manager of Quality of Care NL, and the Scientific Lead at NL SUPPORT.

January 9, 2024 | Learning Cycles | Dr. Brendan Barrett and Dr. Robert Wilson presented a series of Real World Examples of Learning Cycles in the LHSS.

2023

 December 4, 2023 | Defining the LHSS and a discussion about health literacy | Facilitated conversation with the group to gain a grounded understanding of the key principles for the LHSS and to talk about improving health literacy in NL.

 October 24, 2023  |  Initial Planning Meeting facilitated by Dr. Brendan Barrett and Dr. Robert Wilson

 

Resources

The follwoing resources are posted here for members o the exchange seeking support with learning cycles in their organizations and for researchers seeking to connect with health system and community partners:

Program Evaluations:

  • Program Evaluations can be done through the Masters of Applied Psychological Services program at Memorial, free of charge.  Contact  cbutton@mun.ca
  • NLHS has a provincial evaluation team managed by Charlene Reccord, who handles request intake.  Contacts Charlene.reccord@easternhealth.ca
  • The Population/Public Health stream for the Master's of Public Health in Memorial's Faculty of Medicine involves courses and a capstone research project or practicum usually over the summer. Practicums can be carried out in community agencies or healthcare contexts. Contact Dr. Alison Haynes (Population and Public Health stream) MPHcoordinator@mun.ca

Guidelines for Patient Partner Compensation:

Find a local research publication:

Find a Research Unit at Memorial University

Learn about NLHS structure, governance, leadership, and strategic plan:

Find a Community Agency in NL: 

Stats NL | Provincial Statistical Data organized around the Social Determinants of Health