ONA Calls on Humber River Hospital to Improve Patient Care by Swiftly Implementing Independent Assessment Committee Report

TORONTO, April 18, 2013 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is calling on Humber River Hospital (HRH) to implement recommendations from a recent Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) as quickly as possible to ensure registered nurses in the emergency departments of the Church and Finch Street sites are able to provide safe patient care.

After three years of attempting to resolve their concerns with the employer and filling out 200 workload complaint forms, the emergency department RNs took the rare step of calling for an IAC, a panel of three nursing experts that addresses the professional workload complaints of registered nurses. The IAC examined the hospital's decision to implement a new model of nursing care, which resulted in registered practical nurses (RPN) working outside of their scope of practice in sub-acute areas and minor treatment rooms. It also meant additional workload for registered nurses, given the busy nature of the ER setting, patient acuity and the limited scope of RPN practice for stable and non-complex patients.

"We are pleased to see that the IAC recommendations validated the concerns of our members about their ability to provide safe patient care and issued recommendations accordingly," said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud. "Of particular note is the recommendation calling for the identification of the appropriate skill level and staffing mix on the units."

The IAC issued a total of 40 recommendations in the areas of communications, change management, processes, nurse safety related to fatigue, the physical environment, collaboration among interprofessional team members and staffing. There were also recommendations around safety and security, as RNs in the emergency departments were faced with high levels of violence and aggression.

"ONA has met with the employer to discuss the implementation of the recommendations and as a result, new leadership and restructuring of the program is already in place and the employer is set to provide a platform for more open and transparent communications during this time of fiscal challenges," added Haslam-Stroud. "We commend the employer for its commitment thus far and are anxious to continue to work together to correct all issues that have led us to this unfortunate situation. We also commend our dedicated members at HRH for the very strong patient advocacy role they've played for the betterment of their patients and community."

ONA is the union representing 60,000 front-line RNs, RPNs and allied health professionals and more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics.

SOURCE: Ontario Nurses' Association

Ontario Nurses' Association
Ruth Featherstone   [phone], ext. 2267
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