In the midst of Canadian Patient Safety Week Providence Care hosted its First Annual Quality and Safety Day.
Hosted by Providence Care’s Department of Quality & Risk Management, one of the goals of the event was to bring people together in an atmosphere of learning. Staff from across Providence Care’s sites displayed quality improvement as well as patient, client and resident safety initiatives by organizing information booths and contributing poster displays. Lynne Hendry, a Quality Improvement Facilitator with Providence Care, said that what ultimately led to the day’s success was the enthusiasm of all those who participated. “The eagerness of staff to highlight the great work that is being done across Providence Care’s sites and to bring this work to the attention of patients, clients, residents, family members, staff, physicians and senior leadership is inspiring”, Lynne said.
Occupational Health, Infection Prevention & Control, Professional Practice, Pharmacy, Clinical Informatics, Food and Nutrition Services, Hospital Mental Health, Quality & Risk Management, and Nursing were among those who organized booths that highlighted a wide variety of quality and safety initiatives in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Infection Prevention & Control Practitioners discussed the importance of proper hand hygiene in order to prevent the spread of germs, Professional Practice Leaders discussed Providence Care’s Approach to Care, and the Director of Food and Nutrition Services discussed a philosophy called Meal Time Matters which promotes a focus on nutrition and hydration and reducing disruption during meal times. In addition to hosting the event, the Department of Quality & Risk Management provided attendees with information on Providence Care’s Quality Strategic Framework and offered them the opportunity to complete the Accreditation Canada Patient Safety Culture Survey. Staff were also encouraged to make a pledge for Change Day Ontario: a movement that aims to make positive changes in our healthcare system by empowering people to make a pledge and take action to improve quality compassionate care.
This year’s theme for Canadian Patient Safety Week centered on medication safety and, in addition to organizing a booth for the Quality and Safety Day, Providence Care’s Pharmacy Manager lead staff, physicians and volunteers on tours of Providence Care Hospital’s state-of-the-art Pharmacy over the course of the week.
Those who attended the Quality and Safety Day were invited to ask questions, complete Providence Care’s Patient Safety Culture Survey, and receive a flu shot from Occupational Health. Mary McDonald, Director of Quality & Risk Management said, “The feedback from the over 100 individuals who attended the event was overwhelmingly positive”. She shared that the department hopes to grow the event next year with more booths and poster displays, and with an increased focus on involvement from patients, clients, residents and family members.
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