Chile emerges as a global leader in people centred evidence-based care: RNAO CEO visits national BPSO partners

TORONTO, Oct. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- More than 90 health-service and academic organizations across Chile are using Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) best practice guidelines (BPG) to improve health outcomes, strengthen people's experiences of care and foster healthy work environments. From Oct. 20–29, RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun is visiting Chile to celebrate achievements and advance one of the world's most dynamic Best Practice Spotlight Organization^® (BPSO^®) networks.

Invited by Chile's Ministry of Health and BPSO partners, Grinspun is meeting with government officials, health-system leaders, BPSO Leads and Champions, clinical teams, educators and researchers who are translating evidence into practice across the country. Her visit highlights more than a decade of collaboration between RNAO and its Chilean partners, including two BPSO Host organizations – Ministerio de Salud Chile and Universidad de Chile.

"Chile has built one of the strongest and most vibrant BPSO networks in the world," says Grinspun. "Its nurses and other members of the interprofessional team are demonstrating how evidence-informed care transforms organizations and health systems. Their work shows that when governance is strong and organizations invest in implementing robust guidelines, evidence moves beyond academic journals and into everyday practice – where it improves care and changes lives."

BPSOs work with RNAO to implement and evaluate a minimum of three BPGs over three years, with the goal of improving outcomes for people, organizations and health systems and creating sustainable, healthy workplace cultures. At the Chilean Ministry of Health – MINSAL – Grinspun met with minister of health Dr. May Chomalí; head of the Health-Care Management Division Dr. Elisa Llach; director of the Department of Quality and Patient Safety Cristian Lara; and members of the Ministerial Advisory Committee. She also joined the minister in a national BPSO celebration recognizing three graduating public hospitals and participated in a roundtable with representatives of primary health-care organizations taking part in RNAO's BPSO program.

"The leadership shown by Chile's Ministry of Health, universities and health-service organizations has created a powerful model of collaboration from which other jurisdictions can learn," says Grinspun. "RNAO is proud to partner in this work and to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Chilean health professionals."

A major focus of the visit is a series of clinical site visits and BPSO audits with two pre-designate organizations – UC CHRISTUS and RedSalud. Grinspun met with executives, managers and frontline leaders to review implementation progress, learn from their experiences and discuss next steps for the long-term sustainability of people-centred, evidence-based practice. These engagements reinforce RNAO's commitment to meaningful collaboration and continuous improvement with its global partners.

At UC CHRISTUS, Grinspun witnessed the challenges caused by torrential rains at Clínica San Carlos de Apoquindo, where teams worked heroically to safeguard patients and transfer them to Clínica Marcoleta. There, Grinspun heard first-hand accounts of the organization's impressive progress along its BPSO journey.

"Implementing the BPSO program has accelerated our culture of evidence-based care and continuous improvement," says Noskar Navarro, corporate director of nursing at UC CHRISTUS. "This designation represents an important milestone for our organization and reflects the work, commitment and perseverance of our teams over the past three years. Across UC CHRISTUS, nurses and other health professionals are using RNAO's BPGs, which provide the best available evidence to strengthen health outcomes, safety and experiences of care."

Grinspun also visited Clínica RedSalud Temuco and Clínica RedSalud Vitacura, where teams are implementing and evaluating BPGs as part of their commitment to high-quality, person-centred care.

"The BPSO journey has strengthened how we deliver care across our organization," says Lisset Slaibe, RedSalud's national director of care management. "Evidence shows us the way, but it is people – through their commitment, leadership and humanity – who make transformation possible. Dr. Grinspun's visit recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary people who have built this journey and are improving care for the individuals and communities we serve."

Grinspun is also participating in the 2026 Interprofessional RedSalud Congress on Oct. 27–28. Alongside BPSO Champions Felipe Cortés, Chile's chief nurse at MINSAL; Dr. Rodrigo Riffo, medical director at RedSalud; and Socorro Flores, BPSO Lead at  CHRISTUS Muguerza in Mexico, Grinspun participated in a session focused on transforming health systems through evidence, leadership and practice.

A second session on Oct. 28, titled BPSO: The Added Value of Sharing, showcased how BPGs are being implemented across Chile's health system and the importance of collaboration among interprofessional teams. At the conclusion of the congress, BPSO Champions will exchange pins as a symbol of their shared commitment to improving care quality and health outcomes nationwide.

"Chile's BPSO Leads and approximately 5,000 Champions bring extraordinary professionalism, dedication and energy to this work," says Grinspun. "They adapt BPG recommendations to their health-system settings and cultures while preserving the rigour that makes evidence-informed practice so powerful. The results are outstanding – including reductions in falls and pressure injuries and improvements in people's experiences and satisfaction with the health system. Their leadership inspires health professionals in Chile and around the world."

On Oct. 29, Grinspun will conclude her visit at the Canadian Embassy, where Ambassador Karolina Guay will host her and Chilean BPSO partners. The gathering will recognize the strength of the Canada–Chile relationship and the partners' shared commitment to advancing evidence-based care and health-system excellence.

What: RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun meets with BPSO Leads and Champions, clinical teams and government officials in Chile, participates at a national BPSO congress, and visits the Canadian Embassy in Chile.

• Oct. 20: Chilean Ministry of Health (BPSO Host)
• Oct. 21-23 and 26: Final audits and BPSO designation of UC CHRISTUS and RedSalud
• Oct. 27-28: National Interprofessional RedSalud Congress 2026
• Oct. 29: Chilean BPSO delegation and Grinspun will be hosted by Ambassador Karolina Guay at the Canadian Embassy

When: Tuesday, Oct. 20 – Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026

RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) Program is funded by Ontario's Ministry of Health. It was envisioned by CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun in 1998 and launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across all health sectors and settings, with more than 50 guidelines developed to date. The Best Practice Spotlight Organization^® (BPSO^®) Program supports service and academic institutions that have formally agreed to implement multiple RNAO BPGs over a three-year period, and evaluate their impact on patients, organizations and health systems. Launched in 2003, the BPSO Program now has more than 1,500 BPSOs in Ontario, Canada and internationally. 

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public we serve. For more information about RNAO, visit RNAO.ca or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

For more information, please contact: Madison Hietkamp, Communications Officer/Writer, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), 1-800-268-7199 ext. 274, 416-408-5645, [email protected]; Marion Zych, Director of Communications, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), 1-800-268-7199 ext. 209, 416-408-5605, 647-406-5605 (cell), [email protected]