News Release

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Partners with Patient & Family Advisors to Deliver Patient & Family Centred Care Education

Chatham-Kent -- Chatham-Kent Health Alliance continues its focus on four key strategic directions: Patients, People, Performance and Innovation.  One of its goals is:  “We will partner with patients and their families in the delivery of safe, quality care”.  The supporting objective is 100% of the staff, physicians, board members and volunteers will receive education in patient and family centred care.

 
Patient Advisors and healthcare providers have partnered to provide education to over 1100 people, including staff, physicians, and board members since February 2010.  Participants have had the opportunity to hear “first hand” from patients who are now volunteering as Advisors to share their stories about their healthcare experiences.  Grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among patients, families, and healthcare providers, Patient Advisors have participated fully in the development and delivery of the education.

Garna Argenti, RN and facilitator for the education sessions said, “Staff were really touched by the powerful stories our Advisors shared in their sessions.  The video stories by the Advisors were effective, but the in-person participation was amazing.  Staff got a real sense of what the experiences were like for the Advisors when they were patients; what would have made it better for them; and how actions and attitude of the staff made the patient experience exceptional.”

“We are fortunate to have Patient Advisors work with us, as they can speak from experience,” added Crystal Houze, Chief Nursing Executive/Chief Health Professions Officer/Program Director Medicine and executive sponsor for the advancement of patient and family centred care at CKHA.  “Patients are experts in their own care, bringing their perspective to help us understand what is most important in the delivery of patient and family centred care.  Attendees told us how valuable it was to hear patients’ stories.”

The education sessions focused on patient and family centred care, service excellence standards, and the accessibility standards required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Shona Elliott, Interim President and CEO added, “Hundreds of staff, physicians and board members signed a pledge demonstrating their commitment to provide care aligned with CKHA’s newly created service excellence standards and behaviours.  These storyboards with signatures will be hung at CKHA’s campuses in Wallaceburg and Chatham as a visible reminder of our commitment to quality care.”

As another method to sustain the PFCC momentum, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance with Patient Advisors will educate new employees during their orientation to CKHA.

Shown above is an example of the signature boards which have been signed by hundreds of staff, physicians and board members demonstrating their commitment to Patient and Family Centred Care/Service Excellence at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Behind the signature board is a group of interprofessional staff and managers at CKHA.

For more information contact:

Crystal Houze, Chief Nursing Executive / Chief Health Professions Officer /

Program Director - Medicine

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

(519) 352-6400 ext. 6028