65

VIVES: Practice-oriented research to boost education, field practice and businesses

VIVES University of Applied Sciences with locations in Bruges, Kortrijk, Roeselare, Ostend and Torhout, focuses both on education and on practice-oriented research. Each of the six areas of study has an associated centre of expertise at VIVES. A centre of expertise provides companies and organisations with solutions to various complex problems. Moreover, their research provides new knowledge and insights for education.

Research at VIVES keeps the finger on the pulse of social needs and requirements. The VIVES experts in the six centres of expertise - Business Management, Social Innovation, Agro-Biotechnology, Education Innovation, Smart Technologies and Care Innovation - accumulate knowledge on topical issues.

Care Innovation Expertise Centre

At its Centre of Expertise for Care Innovation, VIVES develops practice-oriented knowledge on the application of new innovations and technologies in care. Problems are analysed and solutions developed and implemented in collaboration with people in the field. “In health care, total care management and interprofessional collaboration is gaining ground,” says Lisa Kerckhof, coordinator of the Centre of Expertise for Care Innovation. “The ageing population is a major factor driving the urgent need for innovations, and first line healthcare is also expected to become increasingly important. VIVES develops innovative concepts, methodologies and tools that can be used by all parties concerned to keep the healthcare system of tomorrow both practicable and sustainable.”

The centre of expertise works closely with the healthcare programmes: nursing and midwifery, occupational therapy, audiology and speech therapy, and nutrition and dietetics.

It also has close ties with the care technology/welfare technology bachelor’s programme. This unique bachelor was created in 2015 to meet the growing need for integrating care technology into the field. Technological developments in our society are gaining in importance and have also found their way to healthcare. Our students in assistive technology are trained to identify the needs of individual care recipients and to provide customised (technological) solutions. In this way, they contribute directly to an enhanced quality of life of the care recipient.

STAFF project “Smart Technology as an Alternative for Physical Fixation”

STAFF is a research project of the centres of expertise in Care Innovation and Smart Technologies. The project was realised with the support of VLAIO and various companies. The aim was to find alternatives to freedom-restricting measures in care, and physical fixation in particular. Smart technology such as go-tobed and get-up alarms can serve as such an alternative and contribute to a higher quality lifestyle for residents, while at the same time providing support to employees within the healthcare organisation.

In the STAFF project, go-to-bed and get-up alarms were tested in nine Flemish residential care centres. The results show that this technology offers support not only in the area of low-fixation care, but also for wander prevention, fall prevention and monitoring the behaviour of residents. The project demonstrated that the use of go-to-bed and get-up alarms is best introduced carefully. Thorough preparation is vital for successful implementation. The starting point is invariably the occupant’s needs and requirements. Four factors are instrumental in ensuring the sustainable integration of smart technology into the healthcare organisation: building a wide support base for the policy; technical support; leadership within the department and strong communication within the healthcare team.

© Hogheschool VIVES © Hogheschool VIVES

Lab associated with the healthcare study area

© Hogheschool VIVES

Various labs are associated with the healthcare study area, including:

- SimLab (simlab.be): the VIVES SimLab contributes, via simulation, to the training of (future) professional care providers in order to optimise healthcare quality and patient safety in the field. Simulating a real-life care environment also enables companies to optimise their products before they are deployed in the field. The innovative character of VIVES SimLab is reflected primarily in the integration of Crisis Resource Management (CRM) and Human Factors/Non Technical Skills within the simulation setting.

home environment. Students from various programmes within VIVES learn to enhance the lives of those who need care in our society. In addition, occupants have the opportunity to talk about their care concerns and to find a solution.

- sTimul (stimul.be): this care-ethics lab has manpower and expertise in the field of care ethics in training, research and services. In addition to the training of (future) care providers, sTimul also focuses on supporting healthcare organisations in applying healthcare ethics standards. sTimul emphasises the ‘how’ of care ethical reflection, for which didactic exposure is a powerful tool. Learning in sTimul is first of all learning through experience.

- LiveLab (www.vives.be/nl/livelab): VIVES uses a real-life setting to create an innovative learning and working environment where inter-professional collaboration takes centre stage. Students, lecturers, (care) professionals and inhabitants of 8 Flemish cities and municipalities all participate in the LiveLab. With the LiveLab, VIVES looks for solutions to care issues facing inhabitants in their - Care Lab (www.vives.be/nl/labs/zorglab): this lab distinguishes itself with its inter-professional vision, client-centric approach and strong collaboration with the field. “Care Lab stimulates the creativity of students, lecturers, field workers and facilitates collaboration on issues such as adapted living environment, communication technology for people with restrictions, wander detection, home care automation, remote care, etc. The Care Lab is the place where students are given the opportunity to answer specific questions from the field. Through cooperation agreements with technology firms and the health sector, the Care Lab can swiftly respond to new developments and look for feasible solutions to specific problems encountered in practice,” says Sofie Van Hecke, coordinator Care Lab.

VIVES Doorniksesteenweg 145 B-8500 Kortrijk Tel.: +32 (0)56 26 41 60 Email: info@vives.be http://www.vives.be