In Episode 32 of the Walk and Talk Improvement Podcast, join us for “Implementation Science: underpinning sustainable improvement” with special guest Dr. Laura Keyes. Laura is the Director, Centre for Implementation Research, University of Limerick. In this episode, she shares invaluable insights to support our work to implement change and lead sustainable improvement.

In our conversation, we seek to understand what implementation science is and how you can use it to underpin sustainable improvement. Laura explains key frameworks and shares practical examples of how they might be applied. She also shares the value and impact of early planning, stakeholder engagement, and organisational readiness. The discussion highlights how implementation science can help you pre-empt and address challenges in implementation and foster system-wide thinking for better outcomes. From human behaviour in healthcare to ethical considerations in implementation, this episode shares how implementation science can move beyond theory to create tangible community improvements.

#ImplementationScience, #Evidence-basedinterventions, #EPIS #QualityImprovement #Engagement #OrganisationalReadiness

Hosted by: Juanita Guidera, National Quality and Patient Safety, Health Service Executive

Produced by: Juanita Guidera, National Quality and Patient Safety, Health Service Executive and GKMedia.ie

Biography: Dr. Laura Keyes, Director, Centre for Implementation Research, University of Limerick

Dr. Laura Keyes is the Director of the multidisciplinary Centre for Implementation Research at the University of Limerick. There she leads a team dedicated to supporting implementation methodologies to improve the traction of evidence-based policy, programme and professional practices in routine public service delivery.

Dr. Keyes works in both the development of implementation tools, frameworks and theories and in the practical application of implementation research to real world problems. She has a particular interest in taking a person-centred approach, ensuring translation of science into practice and promoting evidence and practice informed policy making.

Prior to joining the Centre, Dr. Keyes worked in the Health Information and Quality Authority, leading on the implementation of legislative changes to regulation and regulatory practice change. Dr. Keyes has previously held academic roles in Manchester and Cambridge in the UK, where her subject area was public health epidemiology.

Join us with internationally renowned guest Prof Jeffrey Braithwaite for Episode 31 of the Walk and Talk Improvement Podcast, “Knowledge to action: Transforming healthcare quality”. Jeffrey is a leading health services and systems researcher.

In this episode, we explore:

• Finding the balance between technology ("high tech") and human interaction ("high touch") in healthcare delivery.
• The concept of "quality and safety clutter" and timely access to new evidence.
• The importance of co-production, integration and access.
• The evolution of quality improvement methodologies and the importance of tailored approaches.
• The significance of coaching in enhancing healthcare practices.

Listen now to hear this and much more.

Hosted by: Juanita Guidera, National Quality and Patient Safety, Health Service Executive

Produced by: Juanita Guidera, National Quality and Patient Safety, HSE and GKMedia.ie

Biography

Jeffrey Braithwaite BA [UNE], DipLR, MIR [Syd], MBA [Macq], PhD [UNSW], FIML, FACHSM, FAHMS, FFPHRCP [UK], FAcSS [UK], Hon FRACMA

Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite is a leading health services and systems researcher recognised internationally for his contributions to improving healthcare systems. He is the Founding Director of the Australia Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, and Professor of Health Systems Research at Macquarie University.

He holds visiting or adjunct appointments at Newcastle University and the University of Birmingham (UK); the University of Southern Denmark (Denmark); the University of Stavanger (Norway); and the University of New South Wales (Australia); and he is an Honorary Senior International Research Fellow at the Canon Institute for Global Studies (Japan). He currently Chairs the International Society for Quality in Health Care’s (ISQua’s) Academy and previously served as ISQua President from 2020 to 2024.

His research focuses on healthcare culture and structure, leadership and management in health organisations, quality and safety, accreditation, and health system reform. He most recently has been researching health system sustainability and climate change. He has published extensively, with over 1,550 publications, and has delivered more than 1,610 conference presentations, including over 164 keynote addresses.

Professor Braithwaite has developed influential ideas such as boundary-less hospitals, clinician-managers as reform leaders, and culture change as a sustainable reform strategy. His work bridges organisational studies, health services research, and clinical care. By 2025, he had secured over $236 million in career research funding and continues to contribute widely to international research and policy discussions.

Join us for “Leading with Purpose”, Episode 30 of the Walk and Talk Improvement Podcast with special guest Martina Queally as she shares practical wisdom for driving real change. Martina is the Regional Executive Officer, Health Service Executive Dublin and South East, Ireland.

In our latest episode, we explore how you can tackle health inequalities, create opportunities for meaningful transformation and the potential we all hold to make a difference.

Hosted by: Juanita Guidera, National Quality and Patient Safety, Health Service Executive

Produced by: Juanita Guidera, National Quality and Patient Safety, HSE and GKMedia.ie

Biography

Martina Queally - HSE Dublin and South East

Martina Queally commenced her role as Regional Executive Officer in HSE Dublin and South East on January 29th 2024. HSE Dublin and South East serves the people of Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, East Wicklow and parts of South Dublin.

Martina Queally has over 30 years’ health service leadership experience with particular expertise in strategic change management in public services and integrated service delivery. Since 2015, as Chief Officer in HSE Community Healthcare East, she has led the planning and delivery of all community health services in the area (South Dublin and Wicklow), a range of national programmes, and a combined HSE and voluntary workforce of nearly 4000 staff.

She has led a range of change, crisis and service transformation programmes, including the Area Crisis Management Team through the COVID-19 pandemic response and vaccination programme. In 2011 as Integrated Services Area Manager for Dublin South East Wicklow she amalgamated three community health services and an acute hospital network, and in 2005 she led the establishment of the Local Health Office structure in Kildare and West Wicklow.

Martina trained as a Registered General Nurse before qualifying as a Midwife and Public Health Nurse. She graduated with a M.Sc. in Heath Services Management from Trinity College Dublin in 2002. Her graduate work focused on the development of strategic, integrated approaches to health promotion within the Irish Health System. Martina has completed further study in areas of quality and service improvement and is a qualified executive coach and mentor.