MDR in AIS at the 18th EPH Conference
The MDR in AIS project was proudly represented at the 18th European Public Health (EPH) Conference held in Helsinki, a significant opportunity to engage with public health researchers, policy makers, and practitioners from across Europe. The conference served as a dynamic platform to share the objectives and initial results of MDR in AIS, fostering valuable networking and exchange of ideas.
The attending MDR in AIS delegate was able to witness the vibrant and cutting-edge European public health community at work, learning about innovative technological applications, capability empowerment, and Europe-driven efforts to promote sustainability and quality of health. These themes resonate deeply with MDR in AIS’s own goals, such as the integration of stroke care pathways involving Specialized Healthcare (SH), the centralization of high-complexity treatment, and the enhancement of healthcare workforce capabilities.
Key topics addressed by panelists further aligned with MDR in AIS’s mission. Highlights included discussions on the European Health Data Space (EHDS), presented by Fidelia Cascini, the Head of the Scientific Secretariat of the Presidency at the Italian National Institute of Health and the Italian delegate for EHDS negotiations. The ethical and sustainable deployment of AI in healthcare was explored, along with the pressing challenge of bridging research, policy, and implementation divides – offering invaluable insights as MDR in AIS advances.
In conjunction with the conference, the THCS annual meeting took place during the pre-conference phase, bringing together THCS partnership officials and funded projects. The meeting focused on confronting the complexity of health systems through diverse methodologies. Francesco Schiavone, part of the THCS WP8 commission, highlighted the importance of combining qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate project quality, underscoring MDR in AIS’s relevance and impact.
The conference’s keynote speakers included representatives from the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission, advocating for improved care coordination among member states and the harmonization of best practices. MDR in AIS initial findings validate this imperative by identifying existing discrepancies in stroke care across regions and actively seeking evidence-based interventions in high-burden areas as the consortium moves forward with research and implementation activities.
Looking ahead, the MDR in AIS team is enthusiastic about continuing to contribute to the European public health discourse and advancing stroke care innovation. We look forward to the opportunity to participate in next year’s EPH Conference in Bilbao, where we hope to present additional findings and further strengthen our collaboration with public health experts and policy makers across Europe. This ongoing exchange of knowledge and experience is vital as we push forward to improve healthcare quality and equity throughout the continent.
Author: Martin Vitiello, Siena University Hospital, “Santa Maria alle Scotte”