A laboratory focused on innovation in healthcare
The Healthcare Innovation Laboratory supports educational, research and development activities related to nursing, healthcare and the application of innovative approaches in education and practice.
Its mission includes:
- supporting educational needs at undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral levels,
- conducting research,
- developing research and development projects,
- fostering scientific knowledge exchange,
- collaborating with academic, scientific and community organisations,
- providing specialised services where institutionally appropriate,
- supporting knowledge transfer from research into practice.
Core areas of activity
Education
The Laboratory supports educational needs across different levels of study and develops initiatives connecting contemporary nursing education with research and technology.
Research and collaboration
H.I.L. develops and supports research and development activity, partnerships and scientific knowledge exchange, with an emphasis on connecting research with practice.
Nursing innovation
Nursing innovation is a central area of the Laboratory's work, with interest in new tools, applications, services and approaches in healthcare.
Advanced Nursing Practice
The Laboratory supports the advancement of Advanced Nursing Practice through educational and research activity.
Open innovation and living labs
Its open-innovation direction includes co-creation approaches and living-lab models involving health professionals, citizens, patients, communities and other stakeholders where appropriate.
Sustainability and social responsibility
The Laboratory's current direction also includes sustainability, green practices, equity, inclusion and access to healthcare.
Areas of academic interest
The official Healthcare Innovation Laboratory profile includes areas such as:
- nursing education and digital nursing education,
- Advanced Nursing Practice,
- innovative digital-health solutions,
- design and evaluation of innovative health services,
- patient safety and quality improvement,
- entrepreneurship and innovation in health,
- co-creation and living-lab approaches,
- nursing research methodology with an emphasis on open innovation,
- green practices in healthcare.
Within this broader context, NursEscape relates most directly to digital nursing education, educational innovation, and the development of infrastructure that can support future educational evaluation and research.
The relationship between H.I.L. and NursEscape
NursEscape should be described accurately as:
an educational and technology initiative being developed within the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory, Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly.
H.I.L. provides the academic environment in which the platform is being developed and connects the project with the Laboratory's wider mission in education, research and nursing innovation.
NursEscape itself has a specific platform scope that includes:
- digital Room Packages,
- courses and cohorts,
- assignments,
- learner access,
- attempts,
- progress and state,
- results,
- instructor analytics,
- certificates of completion,
- research-oriented versioning and data infrastructure.
The mission of H.I.L. is broader than NursEscape. NursEscape should not be presented as though it represents the entirety of the Laboratory's work.
Leadership
Director of the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory
Dr Maria Malliarou Professor Department of Nursing University of Thessaly
Dr Maria Malliarou is the current Director of the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory.
Scientific Director of the NursEscape Platform
Within NursEscape, Dr Maria Malliarou is identified on certificates as:
Scientific Director of the Platform
The two roles should remain conceptually distinct in public copy:
- Director of the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory
- Scientific Director of the NursEscape Platform
From the former Laboratory identity to Healthcare Innovation Laboratory
The Laboratory was established in 2021 under its previous identity, focused on education and research in trauma care and patient safety.
On 30 December 2025, the Senate of the University of Thessaly unanimously decided to rename the Laboratory.
Under Senate Decision 2483/26/ΓΠ/16-01-2026, it adopted its current name:
Εργαστήριο Καινοτομίας στη Φροντίδα Υγείας
with the international name:
Healthcare Innovation Laboratory
and the distinctive title:
Ε.ΚΑ.Φ.Υ. / H.I.L.
The new name reflects the Laboratory's broader current direction around innovation in healthcare.
NursEscape as an example of digital educational innovation
NursEscape is one example of how academic interest in digital education can be translated into functioning technology infrastructure.
The platform is not limited to a single digital learning activity.
It combines:
- secure hosting and runtime for digital Room Packages,
- versioned publishing,
- educational organisation,
- learner access,
- recording of progress and attempts,
- instructor results,
- certificates of completion,
- technical foundations for future educational research.
In this way, NursEscape connects instructional design, digital technology and academic governance within a university-developed project.
University-developed, without overstating institutional claims
Safe public language is that NursEscape:
- is being developed within the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory,
- is an initiative within the academic environment of the Department of Nursing,
- is institutionally connected to the University of Thessaly through the Laboratory and Department.
Collaboration and knowledge transfer
The wider mission of H.I.L. includes collaboration, scientific knowledge exchange and the transfer of knowledge into practice.
Within NursEscape, this can include discussions around:
- academic pilots,
- educator collaboration,
- institutional deployments,
- development and evaluation of future educational content,
- future research collaboration.
NursEscape does not currently have a published standardized commercial model. Any collaboration should be considered within its real academic and educational context.
Contact the Laboratory
Healthcare Innovation Laboratory Department of Nursing School of Health Sciences University of Thessaly
Address: Gaiopolis Larissa–Trikala Regional Road 41500 Larissa Greece
Email: hil@uth.gr
Phone: 2410 684264
Website: hil.nurs.uth.gr
Primary external CTA: Visit the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory
Frequently asked questions
Is NursEscape a Healthcare Innovation Laboratory project?
NursEscape is being developed within the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory, Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly, as an educational and technology initiative.
Is the Healthcare Innovation Laboratory only about NursEscape?
No. The Laboratory has a much broader educational, research and development mission covering nursing innovation, Advanced Nursing Practice, open innovation, digital health and other areas.
Who is the Director of the Laboratory?
The current Director is Dr Maria Malliarou, Professor in the Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly.
When did the Laboratory adopt its current name?
The renaming was decided on 30 December 2025 and formalised through a Senate Decision dated 16 January 2026.
Where can I find the full work of H.I.L.?
On the official Healthcare Innovation Laboratory website: hil.nurs.uth.gr.
Explore NursEscape within its academic context
Learn more about the platform, its educational rationale and opportunities for academic or institutional collaboration.
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