RMU organises ‘A new horizon’ for collaboration with University of York

Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) organised a three-day activity, international collaborative initiative titled ‘A new horizon’ here at its campus in Holy Family Hospital aiming at international collaboration with University of York United Kingdom.

During the international collaborative initiative, Head of the Centre for Health and Population Sciences at University of York Professor Ian Watt and Head of Quality and Standards and Interim Director Health Professions Education Unit at University of York Professor Alison Pettigrew delivered lectures at the CPC Hall of RMU.

On the first day of the activity, a meeting of guests was arranged with Vice Chancellor RMU Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar and esteemed Deans at Academic Council Hall of RMU to share the transformation process of Rawalpindi Medical College to RMU and future aims. A briefing was also given to the guests from University of York UK on training programs, research and quality assurance at RMU.

On the second day of international collaborative initiative, faculty of RMU and students attended a program arranged in CPC Hall of RMU. Speaking at the inaugural session, the RMU Vice Chancellor Professor Umar introduced the audience about international collaborative Initiative and appreciated the efforts of Co-Chairman, Board of Advanced Studies & Research at RMU and Director, Center for Global Mental Health Pakistan Professor Fareed Aslam Minhas specifically on global health initiative and research. He said that apart from collaboration with other national and international universities, the RMU is intended to collaborate with University of York UK. He also spoke about key performance indicators crucial for ranking of institutes.

Later, Professor Ian Watt delivered a lecture on patient involvement in patient safety and shared international data on the subject. He stressed on significance of patient safety worldwide. He said that we are very little known about patients’ willingness regarding their involvement in their safety plan and negative effects pertinent to patient safety are rarely explored. This might be due to lack of their awareness about local reporting system, he said. He also shared patients’ interviews suffering from breast cancer, asthma and severe mental health problems. He mentioned that health care professionals’ attitudes and behaviour are crucial in facilitating patients’ involvement in their safety. Provision of safety environment and support to healthcare professionals within wider healthcare system can facilitate us in enhancing patients’ involvement in their safety, said Professor Watt. He also discussed Patient Measure for Organisational Safety (PMOS) questionnaire based on five point Likert scale and Patient Reporting for a Safe Environment Tool (PRASE) with the audience.

Professor Alison Pettigrew, speaking on the occasion shared a list of medical schools of UK and establishment of General Medical Council (GMC). She informed the audience about establishment of Hull York Medical School in 2003 and later its transformation to University of York. Four areas of strategic priority were given due consideration which included education, research, outreach engagement and partnership and organizational culture and values, she said. She explained the whole infrastructure of the university and hierarchy of management board at York Medical University, competencies of its medical students, MBBS Course Structure, teaching/learning strategies, assessment tools and themes being vertically practised in its curriculum.

After the lectures, an open house discussion was carried out between esteemed guests and Academic Council of RMU. During the initiative, the guests visited Medical Education Department and Centre for Liver & Gastrointestinal Disorders at the HFH. On the third day, the guests held various sessions with RMU staff and students. According to Professor Minhas, the collaboration between RMU and University of York will provide learning opportunities for medical students and healthcare professionals in all areas of clinical care and research. The collaboration will provide diverse educational activities for increasing the competence of healthcare professionals, enhancing evidence based practice and improving the health status of patients, he said.