Institute of Health

Healthcare is constantly changing in response to advancements in treatment techniques and technology and changes in social structures. Caring for people in physical and mental distress, whether in public or private institutions, poses various challenges. The objective of the Institute of Health is to bridge the gap between the advancements in techniques and technology in the field of healthcare and the human, social and community aspects of care. 

The institute has a high level of expertise in applied research and development, service provision and continuing education and training in the fields of nursing and physiotherapy, as well as in interdisciplinary fields.

The Institute of Health oversees all research and continuing education and training activities of the School of Health Sciences. It has three laboratories for teaching, research and continuing education and training:

• The PhysioLab laboratory is dedicated to applied research and development in the field of physiotherapy,
• The LaboSoins laboratory is dedicated to applied research and development in the field of nursing,
• The InterLabs laboratory is used for applied research and development in both of the above fields, and also for activities linked to other institutes (HES-SO Valais-Wallis, HES-SO, universities, institutes of technology) and activities involving researchers from other disciplines.

These laboratories are hubs where those involved in the two initial training courses offered at the School of Health Sciences (physiotherapy and nursing) and those involved in post-graduate courses (continuing education and training) come together and where knowledge transfer occurs. The laboratories are home to various research groups made up of researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds (such as universities, universities of applied sciences and institutes of technology), as required by the research projects.

This means that the Institute of Health is able to offer expertise in research and continuing education across a wide range of areas within the field of health.