The Little Hospital That Does…Research

For the last several years, and with the support of the hospital administration, as well as the commitment, passion and dedication of a small group of physicians, medical students, and hospital staff, South Huron Hospital Association (SHHA) has become well known as “The Little Hospital That Does Research”. The research that has been conducted at SHHA includes pulmonary rehabilitation programs for rural COPD patients, the diagnostic approach to pulmonary embolism and the use of ultrasonography in rural emergency departments (ED). Research has also included the assessment of health literacy/numeracy in the ED as well as the use of social media. Additionally, there are many of SHHA’s completed research projects that have been presented at national conferences while some are currently awaiting approval for publication. SHHA’s vast amount of research has allowed us to increases our understanding of medical disorders and how we manage them while ensuring continuous improvements in patient care. Having published and presented our data in a multitude of venues, SHHA has been able to share our valuable best practices as well as benchmark ourselves against other organizations. SHHA prides itself on the successful development and cultivation of our culture of continuous learning through research. Our nationally recognized successes have raised our profile capturing the attention of graduating students interested in practicing rural medicine as well as participating in research. As a result of our research opportunities, we continually operate with a full physician compliment while providing ongoing and continuous medical coverage for our community. Our research has impacted our rural facility in the following ways: •Improved access to pulmonary rehabilitation programs for COPD patients in the rural setting •Improved access to ultrasonography in rural emergency departments •Appropriate use of medical diagnostic tests •Improved patient communication through the use of innovative and technological means •Improved patient safety •Improved patient satisfaction as it relates to overall satisfaction and access •Improved access to primary and hospital-based physicians •Reduction in travel i.e. distance and time for patients requiring essential medical services For example, the “Every Breath You Take: Successful Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for COPD in the Rural Setting” research project demonstrates that COPD can be managed effectively in the rural setting. Through our studies, the research team works to develop strategies to help people living in rural communities obtain the best possible care.