معرفی
Ruth Baxter is a Senior Research Fellow in the Yorkshire Quality and Safety Research (YQSR) Group, hosted within the School of Psychology at the University of Leeds. She is currently leading post-doctoral research funded by THIS Institute (2021) focused on operationalizing Resilient Health Care (Safety-II) to improve patient safety. Her work is deeply embedded in applied health research, particularly in transitions of care for older patients, and she contributes to the NIHR-funded PACT programme.
Education:
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology, Newcastle University, 2007
- MSc in Psychological Approaches to Health, University of Leeds, 2013
- PhD in Improvement Science, University of Leeds (joint with YQSR Group), 2016 (funded by The Health Foundation)
Her research centers on innovative approaches to patient safety, including Safety-II, Resilient Health Care, the positive deviance method, and patient involvement in safety improvement. She applies psychological and systems-thinking frameworks to enhance the quality and safety of healthcare services, particularly during care transitions. Her work bridges theory and practice through embedded research in clinical settings such as maternity and elderly care units.
The recent publications reflect a strong focus on qualitative and mixed-methods studies, applied systems analysis (e.g., FRAM), and intervention development. Themes across her work include multidisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and translating safety theories into practical tools. Her research consistently targets high-risk phases in care, especially hospital-to-home transitions for older adults.
Scientific Awards and Recognition:
- Post-doctoral Fellowship, THIS Institute, 2021
- PhD funding from The Health Foundation
Ruth has been involved in significant grant-funded projects, including the NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Health Research Partners At Care Transitions (PACT), which aims to improve safety and experience for older patients and their families. She frequently collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and has contributed to national and international dialogues on patient safety. As an embedded researcher, she works directly with clinical staff to ensure research relevance and impact.
She is an active member of the YQSR Group, a leading research unit in patient safety and quality improvement, where she contributes to both theoretical advancement and practical implementation of safety science. Her role combines research leadership, publication, and knowledge dissemination, including presentations at major events such as the THIS Space annual conference.
