CHATHAM-KENT – Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Nurse Practitioner (NP), Willi Kirenko will be awarded the AstraZeneca Award for Innovation in Chronic Disease Management by the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario (NPAO).

The goal of the Innovation in Chronic Disease Management award is to develop strategies to optimize the management of chronic disease and improve quality of life. Kirenko has chosen to utilize this award to support the ongoing development of knowledge, skills and tools for the NPs who are providing outstanding primary health care through the NP Clinic at Sydenham Campus.

"The grant of $5,000 is available to a member of the NPAO to support implementation of an innovative project that will influence how chronic disease management is integrated into their practice setting or community/region," said Willi Kirenko, Professional Practice Nurse & Nurse Practitioner Coordinator. She further added, "Chronic diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, dementia and asthma are a huge burden on individuals, families and communities in Chatham-Kent. This grant of $5000 is much appreciated. It helps support delivering timely, quality healthcare for those patients who need it."

According to the NPAO, initiatives which support the development, implementation or integration of tools, resources or strategies to enhance patient self-management or interprofessional care were encouraged among the grant submissions. Jane Sanders, Executive Director of the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario (NPAO) said, "It was a great application. We were impressed with the team concept, the evidence of community need and the deliverables of the Sydenham NP Clinic."

The award will be presented at the NPAO Annual Conference in Ottawa on November 7.

Nurse Practitioners provide excellent and comprehensive primary health care in Chatham-Kent. In keeping with the leadership of a Top 100 Employer, the Sydenham Nurse Practitioner Clinic is available for CKHA staff members who do not currently have a primary care provider (family physician or family nurse practitioner).

Staff was invited to complete an application for registration with the CKHA Nurse Practitioner Clinic, currently located at the Sydenham campus. CKHA NPs who are attending this clinic are Bev Boyes, Kristen Campbell, Lori Dalton and Corinne Pollard.

This is the first step of this newly formed, small group of CKHA Nurse Practitioners. Access to healthcare for family members of CKHA staff is an important component of well-being and the focus of family centred care. Once all interested CKHA staff have been registered for ongoing care, a notice will issued to invite family members who are "currently unattached for primary health care" to register, as well. When all CKHA staff and family members are registered, application forms will be made available to specific Emergency Department patients who require ongoing primary health care services with the aim to reduce pressure and waiting times in CKHA’s Emergency Departments. These invitation-only applications will be offered to those patients in a ‘must need’ situation and does not guarantee acceptance.

Another application has been made to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for a fully funded Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

For more information, please contact:

Willi Kirenko, Professional Practice – Nursing / Nurse Practitioner Coordinator
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
(519)352-6401 Ext 6049