2006 Marion Woodward Lecture

In the Palm of Your Hand:
The Transforming Impact of Nursing Sensitive Outcomes

Speaker: Dr. Diane Doran
Date: October 19, 2006
Time: 7:00 pm – Reception to follow lecture
Place: NEW VENUE
Life Sciences Centre 3 – Lecture Theatre
Life Sciences Institute, UBC campus
2350 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver, BC

This lecture is made possible through the generous support of the Mr. & Mrs. P.A. Woodward Foundation

Drawing upon her expertise in the subtle and complex issues associated with interpreting the health effects that can be directly or indirectly attributed to nursing care, Dr. Diane Doran will highlight exciting innovations that she thinks may improve the capacity of nurses to collect, utilize and communicate complex information right at the “point of care.” She will draw on examples from her recent research focusing on using new technological applications to improve the quality of health care teams and patient safety as the provinces and regions restructure and reform the way they deliver health services. In one recent study, Dr. Doran demonstrated that the strategic use of handheld computer devices (or PDAs) by nurses in both hospitals and home care settings not only documents the specific impact of nursing upon patient outcomes, but also serves to enhance communication and protect patient safety.

Diane Doran, R.N., Ph.D., F.C.A.H.S., joined the Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto in 1995 and is currently Professor and Associate Dean of Research and International Relations. Diane is a recipient of the Ontario Premier’s Research Excellence Award and is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Her research has been recognized by the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing Award of Excellence, and the Dorothy Pringle Research Excellence Award, Sigma Theta Tau International, Lambda Pi Chapter. Her recent research focuses on health care teams, the evaluation of methods for improving the quality of nursing practice, and the design and measurement of nursing sensitive patient outcomes in both hospitals and in home care settings. She is currently engaged in an innovative investigation into the use of handheld devices to improve nurses’ collection, utilization, and communication of health information at the point-of-care. She is a co-investigator with the Nursing Health Services Research Unit, Faculty of Nursing. She has actively engaged in establishing joint initiatives with nursing faculties in the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Finland.

For further information: (604) 822-1409
ONRTS@nursing.ubc.ca