Erie Shores HealthCare is partnering with the University of Windsor to participate in research studies moving forward.
The partnership with the University of Windsor Research Ethics Board will help them assess projects before they begin.
"They really look and make sure that the well-being of the patients is put at the forefront of any research that we do, and then they approve the protocols and the studies that we participate in," said Kristin Kennedy, the chief nursing executive at the Erie Shores HealthCare.
Kennedy said the main goal is to improve patient care.
"Partnering with local institutions and contributing to their work in advancing the health and well-being of the Windsor-Essex community is one of the missions of the University of Windsor," said Dr. Suzanne McMurphy, chair of the Research Ethics Board at the University of Windsor. "The partnership between Erie Shores Healthcare and the Research Ethics Board will promote ethical research, as well as scientific knowledge for the benefit of local and broader communities."
Kennedy said they've been working on this partnership for about a year because it is important to provide a rural perspective in the studies they participate in.
"We often see research in some of the more urban, greater populated settings, and it is a chance for us to have a voice at the table as well," said Kennedy.
There are currently three studies being done at the hospital.
One study being done out of the University of Western Ontario will look at the relationship between nurses and physicians, and how their working relationships impact patient care.