Biggest and Most Diverse Cohort in Decade-long Program
OTTAWA, May 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Eleven inter-professional teams of senior healthcare leaders from across Canada have been selected for the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement's flagship 2014-15 EXTRA program for healthcare improvement.
During the 14-month program, participants will acquire skills and knowledge to initiate, implement and sustain major quality improvement initiatives of strategic importance in their organizations and regions, with the goal of enhancing patient outcomes, quality of care and cost-effectiveness.
"On behalf of the federal government, I extend my congratulations to these 42 health leaders who were awarded a unique opportunity to become change agents in healthcare improvement," said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health. "Through funding for the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, we are helping build leadership capacity to improve patient outcomes and realize healthcare efficiencies through innovation. I look forward to seeing the results from these strong teams."
This 11th cohort will implement improvement projects across Canada in a range of healthcare areas, including a quality improvement framework to improve patient safety; an integrated ambulatory assessment service for mental health services; and an Emergency Department dashboard to improve timely patient care.
One example of a strong and innovative team is a unique collaboration between two provinces aiming to solve a common challenge. Fraser Health in British Columbia and Capital Health in Nova Scotia will jointly address a disconnect between near frail seniors and community care supports that was creating a barrier to healthy aging in their regions. The interprovincial team will work together to transform the current system from a traditional reactive approach towards a proactive and patient-oriented system. This will potentially enable seniors to live a higher quality of life within their community longer, reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and avoidable admissions to acute care, and reduce premature admission to residential care system.
"One problem, two provinces, one collaborative solution. This is what makes the EXTRA program unique in Canada," said Dr. Jean Rochon, Chair of EXTRA's Advisory Council which selects the participants (known as Fellows) on behalf of CFHI and its EXTRA partners - the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL), the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and a consortium of 12 Quebec partners represented by the Initiative sur le partage des connaissances et le développement des competences (IPCDC).
Added Maureen O'Neil, CFHI President: "We're pleased to announce the biggest ever cohort for this successful program that supports leaders in improving patient care."
Read more about the 2014-15 EXTRA teams and their projects.
Learn about the EXTRA program for healthcare improvement.
The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating healthcare improvement by working with provinces, territories and other healthcare partners to promote efficient healthcare that delivers better outcomes. With a $10 million annual federal investment, CFHI supports the development of innovations that could save provincial-territorial healthcare budgets over $1 billion per year. CFHI is funded through an agreement with the Government of Canada.
SOURCE: Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement
Paulette Roberge, Senior Communications Specialist, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, W: 613-728-2238 ext. 288, C: 613-790-1070, E: [email protected]
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