A “ground-breaking” new online Master’s degree in healthcare has been launched at University of Galway by Minister Heather Humphreys.
The Masters in Evidence-Based Future Healthcare will give health and social care workers the tools and knowledge needed for modern healthcare and the fully online programme is now recruiting for its first intake in September 2024.
It has been designed for busy healthcare workers engaged in clinical practice, as well as those in broader healthcare settings who want to transform their current practice, optimise healthcare outcomes and advance their careers in a quickly evolving field.
The programme will deepen healthcare workers’ appreciation of health-tech advances, such as artificial intelligence, and how to use these appropriately.
Galway West TD and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton TD said that she was delighted to officially launch the new Masters at University of Galway.
“This initiative will offer invaluable opportunities for healthcare professionals and individuals in related fields such as medtech, to develop their understanding of the critical skills needed to enhance patient care and health service delivery through the application of best practices,” she said.
“Our experiences through the pandemic underscore the significance of collaborative, efficient and effective evidence-based healthcare in safeguarding the well-being of communities.”
Dr Elaine Toomey, a Lecturer in Evidence-Based Healthcare at University of Galway, Health Research Board fellow and Co-Director of the new Masters, said at the launch: “In an era where information is abundant, but not always reliable, it is essential that healthcare professionals and people working in healthcare have the knowledge and skills to rigorously evaluate and apply the latest evidence in their practice.”
“This new and innovative programme will be fully online, enhancing accessibility and flexibility of learning for people from all areas of Ireland and internationally,” said Dr Toomey.
“It is primarily designed to provide clinicians and healthcare workers from a variety of backgrounds, with the tools they need to make truly-informed decisions alongside patients and their families, ultimately leading to significantly improved quality of care.”
