Initially introduced in June 2007 and continuing throughout 2008, the Chief Executive Innovation Forums are aimed at SWAHS staff with a general theme of ‘Innovation’ and how it is contributing to patient care.   

In 2008 seven forums were held between March and November covering a wide variety of topics as follows:

March - Ms Elizabeth Anderson - The Insulin Identification Chart - a Westmead Hospital Drug Information Unit educational and safety initiative

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Ms Fran Tolliday – The Shaken Baby Prevention Project - From Inspiration to Outcome

April – Professor Carol Pollock – The Research Business Model at NSCCH & The model for the new Research Building

May - Dr Vivien Lane - Strategic Developments - On-Line Clinical Education in Nursing (OLCEN) linking with Nursing Clinical Information Systems (N-CIS)

June - Ms Jeanette Sheridan - Research Innovation Centre for Health in the Sydney West Area Health Service

July – Dr Steven Fleming & Dr Howard Smith - Prospective controlled trial of a novel membrane-based electrophoretic method of sperm preparation for assisted reproduction

October - Dr Russell Carrington - Technologies being Commercialised by the SWAHS Office of Commercialisation

November – Dr John Gallagher - BICMAT, BICMAIL and IDALERT

The forums were successful in many ways including:-

• getting staff together to discuss commercialisation of innovations

• lively discussions following the presentations

• presenting an opportunity to discuss innovation at SWAHS with the Chief Executive

• new joint projects being proposed between different groups within SWAHS, their partners and stakeholders.

In addition, the forums outlined the services available to staff from the SWAHS Office of Commercialisation.

Further forums are planned for 2009 – check back here early in 2009.