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This year’s event comes at a pivotal time for the industry and its management, writes Paula McDonnell, CEO of TTM Healthcare Solutions.

Certain events in the Irish healthcare calendar get the whole team exhilarated, and the HMI Annual Conference stands among the very best of these. Now in its twelfth year, it promises to deliver huge value in terms of shared experience – keeping us on the pulse and connected across a diverse sector, and enabling us to lay important groundworks for 2024.

This year, as exhibitors at the event, the TTM team is particularly buoyed. The conference theme, ‘Leading healthcare integration: strategies for optimising patient care’, comes at a time when service integration is absolutely at the forefront of debate. Five years on from the Slaintecare Report and more than half-way to the introduction of the new single-tier health and social care system, where are we with its integration and what more needs to be done?

The HMI, as the professional body for healthcare managers in Ireland, has taken on the task of unpacking the topic. The result is a conference organised by healthcare managers, for healthcare managers – meaning it’s pitched to those at the coalface of daily delivery.

Rosemarie Carroll, Learning and Professional Services Manager, HMI, explains: “Integration is a key policy focus for the Department of Health and is also a cornerstone to the successful roll-out of Slaintecare. This year has seen the establishment of the Regional Health Authorities (a fundamental element of Slaintecare) specifically developed to enable the integration of key services which place the service user at the centre.

“We know that services need to be delivered differently, not just in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness, but in a way that brings care closer to the service user. Integration is being driven by a multi-agency approach involving emergency services, GPs, community services and population health.”

So, what does this all mean for attendees? HMI suggests it will allow members to pinpoint and articulate the skills and approaches that they will need to deploy for the future. An impressive lineup of speakers has been recruited to help get everyone in the mindset for change. I’m personally looking forward to the session being delivered by some of the leading lights of healthcare academia, including Aine Carrol, Professor of Healthcare Integration and Improvement for Dublin University. With contributions from the public, private and community-led facets of healthcare delivery, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

As Rosemarie articulates, “for those who attend it is an opportunity to hear from a range of contributors, each with something relevant to say. We encourage interaction between our speakers and delegates as the day is about them. At a time when many challenges and opportunities exist, the conference offers a chance to interact with colleagues, re-establish relationships and offer a community of support for our members and others.”

Here at TTM, our task is to remain agile in support of our clients as they navigate the sector challenges, and to innovate in response to what we hear. We have a proud track record of working in partnership, for example:

- Through our provision of permanent, temporary and international healthcare talent, we provide vital skills and capacity to the sector – fully compliant and ready to deploy.

- Through Healthcare Process Outsourcing, our expert team slots in seamlessly, allowing managers the headspace they need to focus on skills development and future transformation. OUR HPO team provide a wide range of solutions from RPO, MSP, Patient scheduling & Wait list management to Clinical Assessments, all to help free up healthcare professionals to do what they do best – provide outstanding patient care.

Because ultimately that’s what the conference is really about – the ability to provide total focus on, and support for, the ill and vulnerable in our society. That’s our ‘why’ and the motivation that gets us out of bed each morning. Collectively, we all need to lean into the debate, be willing to challenge and change, and have the courage and vision needed to lead our people.

Do come and find us on the TTM stand – we’re excited to see you there.

Paula McDonnell,
CEO of TTM Healthcare Solutions