Paula Procter

Background

About Paula Procter

My professional background is that of nursing. Since 1979 I have been involved with the use of information and communications technology to support healthcare practice (implemented Exeter Nursing System 1979-81), administration (Head of Information, Sheffield and North Trent College of Nursing and Midwifery 1991-1995) and education (Director, England Computer Assisted Learning Project (1988-1991/ Director Computers in Teaching Initiative first Centre for Nursing If asked, I would say that I was an 'informatics futurist' my research and publications confirm an innovative approach to my work. In recognition of my local, national and international work I was promoted to Professor in August 2018 and Emeritus Professor in August 2021.My recent work has centred around digital capabilities workforce development for nurses and midwives. This work has included being the international advisor for the Australian Digital Capabilities Framework for Nurses and Midwives, membership of the Chief Nursing Information Officer (CNIO) NHSx Education Advisory Panel and Co-Chair of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) Nursing Informatics Education Working Group. Working with the Department of Computing (Sheffield Hallam University) I helped to prepare the successful proposal to the Office for Students in support of funding an MSc in Healthcare Analytics and Artificial Intelligence which is particularly directed toward developing health and social care workers - past and present - to be front-line leaders as we advance further into the digital world across all care domains. In 2009 I developed an online course for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students in digital health so as to aid their knowledge and understanding of the data driven workplace in which they would be employed. The course continues today and includes all Allied Health Professionals amounting to some 2,500 students with 24/7 access to the content. My research has concentrated upon knowledge development and beneficial use of technology, an example of the former is the award of a project with a local trust to explore workforce digital capabilities at all levels of the organisation through a nursing prism; and, for the latter, the use of robot avatars to enable severely disabled individuals to be part of a workforce.I circulate ideas through my publications, conference presentations and by listening to others. I hold the position of Honorary Fellow of IMIA-NI, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society.