HQC researcher’s work honoured at Research Showcase

A study co-authored by a Health Quality Council (HQC) researcher was recognized with an Award of Excellence in June at the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region’s eighth annual Research Showcase.

The HQC’s Meric Osman – along with Dr. Jonathan Misskey and Dr. David Kopriva – conducted a research study entitled “Geographical disparities in the burden of ruptured and unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in Saskatchewan.” The study looked at areas of Saskatchewan with high aneurysm rates to see if they would benefit from further study or the possible implementation of a targeted screening protocol to prevent and manage aneurysms.

Dr. David Kopriva and the HQC’s Meric Osman received an Award of Excellence in June

 “One of our priorities at the Health Quality Council is to produce and analyze data in an attempt to better understand and improve the health-care system. By identifying areas of the province where aneurysms occur most often, we can look at ways to reduce the incidence of aneurysms,” said Osman, who joined the HQC as a research analyst in 2012.

There are currently more than 200 research studies in progress in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR), and 55 were highlighted at the Research Showcase conference on June 23, 2014. Five Awards of Excellence were distributed, with three of those provided to students. Winners in the student category – which included Dr. Misskey – received a $500 travel bursary to help them share their work outside of RQHR.

Osman is looking forward to participating in future data-driven research studies and working with HQC’s partners in the health regions and other agencies.

“The Health Quality Council is measuring how the health-care system is functioning so that we can make improvements in key areas,” he said.

“You need to know where you’re starting from in order to make improvements in how the system functions and in the quality of care that people receive.”

For more information on HQC’s measurement and reporting activities, visit http://hqc.sk.ca/improve-health-care-quality/measure/.