Project 465827

My academic journey focuses on improving connections between science and the practice and policy that might arise from the research. I study how teams of university researchers, decision makers, and health care providers work together. This fellowship is an excellent opportunity to enrich my post-doctoral training through practical experience, networking, and learning opportunities to further develop my professional and academic competencies. My host partner organization and academic institution are ideal training environments for me. Applying my experience, research and knowledge to practice is added value. This project will explore the putting into practice of a Rooming-in Program for pregnant women using drugs and their babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) across Alberta. The Program is called NASCENT (NAS Care improvemENT). It is a collaboration between Maternal Newborn Child and Youth Strategic Clinical Network (MNCY SCNTM) and the University of Alberta. It will help the MNCY SCNTM and Alberta Health Services to improve care for mothers and their babies with NAS. This project will evaluate how the Program has been put into place in hospitals, across hospitals and in communities. Dealing with complex social issues is a key part of the project for both the patients and staff who are providing care. We will make sure to include these issues as part of the evaluation. We will focus on how the teams and groups involved in this project work with each other and engage with other teams or groups that are involved. We wish to better understand all of the many factors that contribute to teams being effective in their work together and with other teams and stakeholders. We will look at the ways teams collaborate within their own and with others. We will do this by in-depth study of two sites that are implementing the NAS Program. We will share our findings and identify the strategies that can be adapted for teams at other sites in the larger Program.