MASHNET

Nosokinetics

WELCOME TO MASHnews - the first edition !

Avid readers of NosoKinetics will be well aware from coverage in previous editions of the formation and some of the activities of MASHnet - The UK Network for Modelling and Simulation in Healthcare. MASHnet was established in January 2005 with the support of funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Nosokinetics editor Peter Millard (a member of the MASHnet Steering Group) has invited the inclusion of this page which have its own distinctive style and will cover a range of MASHnet activities. We hope MASHnews will develop organically over time in response to the needs and aspirations of readers and members of the network. The content, size, format, style, presentation etc are all 'up-for-grabs' and we welcome constructive feedback to help us shape the production. Editorship of MASHnews is likely to be shared and/or rotated between members however that too is to be determined. So we set out, knapsack on shoulders, with no clear destination but with a strong sense of adventure together with the conviction that fun and creativity, enjoyment and productivity are natural companions.

MASHnews is also available as a downloadable pdf file from the MASHnet website: http://www.mashnet.org.uk

MASHnet EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

NHS CONFEDERATION/MASHNET WORKSHOP: MODELLING SOLUTIONS IN HEALTH CARE

2nd March 10-4pm, NHS Confederation HQ, London.

There has been a great deal of interest in this collaborative workshop which is primarily for professionals working at all levels of the health service. The programme will consist of initial presentations whcih outline the potentials of modelling solutions in healthcare followed by interactive sessions aimed at defining the key areas where modelling can most fruitfully be applied. More details on the MASHnet website.

MASHNET WORKSHOP

3rd April, Cardiff University.

Building on the outputs of the MASHnet launch (Sept 2005) and the NHS confederation workshop above, this will bring together a wide range of delegates from differing backgrounds (health service, academic, research, and industry). The aim will be to bridge commnication gaps and define a more successful context for future implementation of healthcare modelling.

WEBSITE DATA RESOURCES:

A key part of MASHnets objectives is to develop useful information resources to support the activities of with an interest in healthcare modelling and help people make contact. We are currently engaged in developing the following web based listings which will be made available shortly and will build over time: Practitioner Directory: - a listing of individuals in health , research, and industry with an active interest in health care modelling and simulation. This includes a summary of specific interests and provides a point of contact.

Case Study Examples Listing: - identified as an important requirement, we hope to build a listing of examples of models and simulation systems that have been used in areas of health service application.

Bibliography: - a comprehensive database of publications from a wide range of publications relevant to the development of successful health care models and simulations.

BOOK REVIEW

THREE WINS: Service Redesign Through Flow Modelling
By Simon Dodds. Kingsham Press, Chichester. ISBN 1-904235-54-9

A practical, readable and thought provoking manual for change. This book journeys through the necessary steps for successful re-organisation within the NHS. The three wins are the potential fruits of re-design: gains in service quality for patients, motivation for clinical staff and system performance for service managers. The arguments of the book are crucially underpinned by the reported, award winning, experiences of Dodds in transforming his own Vascular outpatient clinic and leg ulcer telemedicine service at Goodhope hospital. A full review of this book can be found on the MASHnet website

Dr Martin Pitt (m.pitt@exeter.ac.uk)
Peninsula Health Technology Assessment Group
Peninsula Medical School - University of Exeter
Noy Scott House, Barrack Road
Exeter EX2 5DW

[To Contents Page] [To Archive Overview]

Some navigational notes:

A highlighted number may bring up a footnote or a reference. A highlighted word hotlinks to another document (chapter, appendix, table of contents, whatever). In general, if you click on the 'Back' button it will bring to to the point of departure in the document from which you came.