Hello, Boozhoo, Bonjour.
As we head into the holiday season and approach the end of the calendar year, I know this is a very busy time for all of you, so I wanted to touch base with a quick update.
I would like to begin by thanking everyone who completed the 2023 Employee and Professional Staff Engagement Survey. Please note that we have extended the survey until December 3rd and we would truly appreciate your participation. The insight gained from your feedback will allow us to build on the successes and identify areas where improvement can enhance the work culture. We hope your participation in the survey gave you an opportunity to reflect and consider what motivates you about work and the connection you have to your role and the organization. We want to make progress when it comes to helping you feel appreciated and purposeful in your work.
We also know patient experience is interwoven with staff experience — and both lead directly to our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time. At our Town Hall this month we heard a story about a patient that was well supported throughout their journey within our Hospital. Upon hearing the story, I couldn’t help but reflect on the importance of positive staff experience and teamwork. The patient experience is the sum of all interactions, shaped by an organization’s culture where patient perceptions are influenced along the continuum of care. Providing optimal care is rewarding and is better accomplished if we all have a common goal as was evident in this story. The teams worked effortlessly to ensure the patient was taken care of and felt rewarded in their efforts; the outcome was a better patient experience. This is just one example of the great work you are all doing.
A huge congratulations to our Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network (NWORSN) team who was awarded the 2023 RBC Innovation Hero of the Year award earlier this month for the development of the NWO Navigate Application. The interactive app assists health care providers when dealing with time-sensitive conditions when needing to navigate the most appropriate options for stroke care in Northwestern Ontario. The award was accepted by Trina Diner, Manager, NWORSN, Neurology, Cardiac Diagnostics and Cardiac Rehabilitation on behalf of the organizations and people involved in this supportive creation. We are proud of the team and their innovative and collaborative work to support patients in getting essential and timely access to treatment for suspected strokes.
This week we gave back for Giving Tuesday, led locally by our Health Sciences Foundation. This international day is a time to reflect and a chance to give back to patient care beyond our work. I certainly was not surprised by the number of people within our Hospital and Health Research Institute that go above and beyond their general call of duty and contribute back in donations. Thank you to all for making that day such a success to ensure patient care is enhanced through these donations.
Finally, as we continue to encounter increased visits to our Emergency Department due to respiratory-related illnesses, please be mindful of your surroundings and the elevated activity within our community. Please also make certain you are following our masking and IPAC measures within our Hospital to minimize the risk. We appreciate your cooperation and supporting these measures with patients and families.
Thanks for taking the time to read this month’s blog and I trust you will get some time over the coming weeks and take in some holiday cheer with your friends, family and co-workers.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me with comments or for any other matter. You can reach me at: rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net.
