Individuals, teams honored for efforts to improve quality of health care in Saskatchewan

SASKATOON, April 24, 2014 /CNW/ - Eight teams of health care providers and managers from around the province are being recognized for their efforts to make health care better for patients. As well, four individuals—including two patient representatives--will receive Improvement Champion awards.

All award winners will be honored at a banquet to be held as part of the 4th annual Health Care Quality Summit at TCU Place, Saskatoon on May 6. The Summit and awards are hosted by Saskatchewan's Health Quality Council (HQC).

Improvement Champions

• Heather Thiessen: Thiessen is a tireless ambassador for patients and families. She has brought the patient perspective to a number of care improvement initiatives in Saskatoon Health Region, and provincially.

• Hank Lashta: Lashta has played a crucial role in the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency's continuous improvement work, including bringing the patient perspective to 3P (production, preparation process) work at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre (SCC). 

• Lisa Clatney, Client and Family Centred Care Specialist, Saskatoon Health Region: Clatney has created a program that pairs patients and families with first year medical students and pharmacy students, developed a patient experience survey process to help her region better understand the patient experience, and has helped create many new patient and family advisory groups within the health region.

• Marie Mihalicz, Student Services Consultant, Beauval, Saskatchewan: Mihalicz has worked to increase the abilities of young people to respond to and support their friends in times of need by offering Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). Mihalicz took action to build skills in youth, create supports in their communities, and ultimately, reduce the impact of suicide on northern communities.

Better Health

• Team: Embracing Life Committee, Northern Saskatchewan
  • The Embracing Life Committee was formed to bring together communities, service providers and other stakeholders to address suicide in northern Saskatchewan communities. As a result of their efforts, individuals and communities have better knowledge of the services available to them, are now receiving relevant information and updates, and have the opportunity to provide direct input on their needs and the needs of their communities.

• Team: Population and Public Health Services, Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region
  • In January 2014, there was an outbreak of measles in Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region (RQHR). Through strong communication, teamwork, diligent daily management and dedication to providing exceptional patient centered care, the RQHR Population and Public Health Services multidisciplinary team successfully controlled the measles outbreak.  

Better Teams

• Team: Mental Health, Sunrise Health Region
  • The Crisis Assessment Team at Mental Health and Addiction Services reduced that service's lengthy wait list to meet provincial triage and response time targets, and to provide service to more clients in a more timely way that meets the client's needs – whether it is at the outpatient mental health clinic, the hospital, rural clinics, or the client's own home.

• Team: University of Saskatchewan Health Sciences and LutherCare Communities
  • In the last seven years, more than 400 health care students have participated in a program that provides health professions students with the opportunity to learn with, from, and about a senior "partner" through a series of social events and structured small group visits.

Better Value

• Team: Department of Pharmacy Services, Sunrise Health Region
  • The Department of Pharmacy Services improvement team at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre achieved projected annual savings of $76,000 in inventory ordered and stocked in medication storage areas as well as an 84% reduction in expired inventory ($1200 vs $7400 per quarter) in an affiliate facility. 
    
• Kelvington Integrated Facility 3P Team, Kelsey Trail Health Region
  • The team used a lean tool called 3P (Production Preparation Process) to design an acute and primary health care addition to an existing long-term care facility, which will result in better care processes, improved flow, and less waste. The construction cost reduction of $2.6 million dollars has been reallocated to renovations and renewal of the existing long-term care buildings. In addition, 5.4 million steps will be saved per year for RN's at the facility.

Better Care

• Team: Department of Adult Critical Care Patient and Family Advisory Council, Saskatoon Health Region
  • The council has been instrumental in implementing a number of improvements for patients and families in the intensive care unit.  The council is made up of patient and family advisors, front line staff including nurses, clinical nurse educators, respiratory therapists, social workers, and managers.

• Team: ICU Team in Regina General Hospital, Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region
  • This project helped bring the importance of HIV testing to the forefront in the ICU environment, and created awareness amongst staff and patients.

The fourth annual Health Care Quality Summit will be held on May 5 and 6, 2014 at TCU Place in Saskatoon. Over 600 health care providers, managers and leaders, and up to 125 patient representatives from across our province will gather to learn from international and local speakers, and from one another, about the best ways to improve health care.

More details about each of the award winners is available on the awards page on the Quality Summit website: http://qualitysummit.ca/awards/

On May 5, 2014 the Health Quality Council will issue a media advisory about the Summit keynote presenters and sessions that may be of interest to you and/or please visit the event website at www.qualitysummit.ca.

SOURCE: Health Quality Council - Saskatchewan

For more information about the Pursuing Excellence awards or the Quality Summit, please contact: Greg Basky at the Health Quality Council: [phone], ext. 111, [email protected].