Health Service Modelling Associates Programme 2018 launched at SW AHSN Regional Intelligence Analysts Network event

At the third SW AHSN Regional Intelligence Analysts Network (RIAN) event, on 19 October, PenCLAHRC and the SW AHSN launched the second round of the successful Health Service Modelling Associates (HSMA) Programme – HSMA 2018.

Around 70 analysts and those using analytical techniques from health and care organisations across the South West attended the RIAN event which focussed on ‘Insight from Data’. Dan Chalk – Research Fellow and HSMA Programme Lead at PenCHORD and Anna Coltman – Project Manager at SW AHSN, announced the launch of the programme to delegates.

The HSMA Programme is a joint initiative between PenCHORD – PenCLAHRC’s operational research team – and the SW AHSN. The programme aims to work with staff from NHS organisations in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset to support the increased use of operational research within health service development and decision making.

The HSMA programme allows a number of NHS staff from across the region to be released from their usual role for a day a week to undertake an advanced modelling project for their organisation.

Each HSMA member is supported by a modelling expert in the PenCHORD team who acts as the HSMA’s mentor throughout the project. HSMAs will receive specialist training in advanced model building software, operational research techniques and problem structuring, amongst other skills.

HSMA’s will also be supported by a workplace supervisor – a senior member of staff from the HSMA’s organisation who facilitates the work of the HSMA and the implementation of the findings from the project.

In the first round of the programme, our HSMA projects led to multi-million-pound business cases, significant improvements to A&E departments, mental health and discharge pathways, and a number of our HSMAs were promoted within their organisations.

Further details about the 2018 programme and podcasts from year one associates can be found here

If you think you fit the requirements, and you have at least a preliminary idea for a potential problem in your organisation that you might like to explore with modelling, you are encouraged to attend the HSMA 2018 Open Day in Exeter on Wednesday 6 December, 12:00-16:00.

The Open Day will offer a chance for you to hear more details about the programme, meet the PenCHORD team and discuss your ideas with them and hear first-hand experiences from HSMAs from the first round of the programme. It is important that you book your attendance through this link and complete the survey in full.

To find out if you are eligible to apply for the programme, you can visit the HSMA 2018 page which includes the Person Specification. You can also find a list of FAQs here.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Programme Lead Dr Daniel Chalk at d.chalk@exeter.ac.uk