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LSBU academic urges quality improvement in renal care
Dr Nicola Thomas delivered a key note address at an international conference this week, underlining her extensive research on the importance of quality improvement in renal careNicola is a principal lecturer and researcher in the faculty of health and social care with thirty years' experience in clinical practice, education and research. Much of her research has been dedicated to improving patients' self-management of mild-to-moderate kidney disease from both a patient and practitioner's perspective.
The Annual Scientific Meeting of the ANZSN (The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology) and Renal Society of Australasia was held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 25 – 27 August 2014.The collaboration between the organisations brought together national and international speakers to share research, knowledge and best practice in the field during Renal Week.
Dr Nicola Thomas said: "I was delighted to be invited as the international keynote speaker and I was given the warmest welcome by the organising committee and delegates."
Nicola has extensive teaching experience in developing and running kidney care, research and clinical leadership courses for acute hospitals, GP practices and Higher Education Institutions. In addition, she has also been involved in national quality improvement projects in the UK which saw her work with over 100 GP Practices in England and Wales to improve the management of kidney disease in primary care.
"The large audience was particularly interested in my second presentation," explains Nicola. "It was concerning 'patient and carer involvement in kidney care' as involving service users in education and research is not well known in Australia.
"In addition to the keynote presentations, I was invited to a breakfast symposium to discuss my experiences of managing kidney disease in primary care. Here I heard about the many difficulties in providing health care across such large geographical areas, and of the challenges in engaging with the communities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who are at increased risk of kidney disease."