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What’s in a name187682/3/2021 9:42:29 PMPatient Safety News​ ​Jennifer Zelmer In our case, a lot. On March 2, 2021 it will be my great pleasure to introduce you to the new organization that brings together the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute. (And not just because we are all very tired of calling ourselves "the newly amalgamated organization that brings together CFHI and CPSI"!). Working with you as CPSI and CFHI, we achieved a LOT. But we know there is much more to do. And so, we teamed up and together will bring a greater capacity to support you to turn proven innovations into widespread and lasting improvement in patient safety and all the dimensions of healthcare excellence. This new organization will have a relentless focus on improving healthcare, with – and for – everyone in Canada. When we launch, you will be able to read our story, see the new logo and tagline and hear our new name. Why is the name the most important? Well, in this case, it's not just how you can identify us. It's how you will know who we are, what we believe in and what we are determined to do – together with people like you. Would an organization by any other name be the same? We don't think so. Because the journey that brought us to this name is at the core of what that name is. It's a journey that was completed during a global pandemic that reinforced the need for the amalgamation of our two organizations into something greater than the sum of our parts. And it's a journey that was completed together, with you. It includes many (many) people, from across the country, who participated in in-depth interviews, discussion groups, conversations and testing. Patient partners, essential caregivers, Indigenous partners and many other people committed to healthcare quality and safety were extremely generous with their time and provided unparalleled insight and expertise. And staff, Board and working group members were tireless in their commitment to getting this right. The conversations were not always easy. The passion and dedication that drove input was beyond what we would have hoped for. In engaging with stakeholders across the country to explore their priorities and how the amalgamated organization can support them, many common themes emerged Be bold in actions to change the system Be clear and focused about our purpose Look to the future Strengthen diversity and inclusivity Share expertise and guide others Be agile and move quickly And in the end, it all boils down to finding a name that reflects and honours all of this. True, a name that does not make you who you are, but when brought to life with partners, it definitely sets you in the right direction to begin to make a name for this organization that includes all of us. Because of who we are, what we will do – and mostly, how we will do it. Together, we have found that name. And together, we will live up to that name. Want to hear more about the journey, the new name and what the new organization will do? Join us March 3, 2021 for a webinar panel discussion, Shaping the future of quality and safety. Together. Register 2/3/2021 7:00:00 AM Jennifer Zelmer In our case, a lot. On March 2, 2021 it will be my great pleasure to introduce you to the new organization that2/9/2021 5:08:36 PM1408https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
In Jennifer Zelmer’s Words: Holiday Greetings and a Year in Review 1853612/11/2020 3:51:40 PMPatient Safety News<img alt="" height="130" src="/en/NewsAlerts/News/PublishingImages/Jennifer%20Zelmer.png?Width=140&amp;Height=130" width="140" style="BORDER&#58;0px solid;" /> ​The Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement recently amalgamated. CEO of CPSI Chris Power retired, and CFHI CEO Jennifer Zelmer was named President and CEO for the newly amalgamated organization. In this monthly blog, Jennifer shares her thoughts about this month's Digital Magazine topic. Without question, this has been a tough, challenging year. The global pandemic has dominated the news and our personal lives, and it has reinforced the commitment we share to supporting and improving healthcare. I want to offer my most sincere thanks to all healthcare providers and essential care partners across the country. We value your tireless efforts to heal each patient, manage each crisis, support your well-being and that of your colleagues, and find the strength to carry on – and we pledge to continue to work with you to ensure care is better and safer for everyone. This issue of the Digital Magazine highlights just a few ways that we are doing so. It includes progress made on our Policy Framework for Patient Safety, for instance. Our Senior Program Manager, Jan Byrd, spoke to the Executive Director of the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety, Laurie Thompson, to discuss how that organization has applied the five policy levers to improve the effectiveness of their outreach programs. We also hear from long-time partners at the Atlantic Learning Exchange about their unique opportunities for like-minded individuals across the Atlantic provinces to connect, broaden their knowledge, and take that knowledge translation back to their workplaces. And we are expanding efforts across the country to support pandemic preparedness and response in long-term care and retirement homes, with the Government of Canada's latest $6.4 million investment doubling the number of homes we can support with seed funding, coaching, connections with peers, and other elements of the LTC+ Acting on Pandemic Learning Together Program. As 2020 draws to a close, in addition to reflecting on the tough times that we have seen, we can also celebrate how we have come together. STOP! Clean Your Hands Day, World Patient Safety Day, and Canadian Patient Safety Week are just three examples that have joined patient safety proponents across the country together. And I am glad to also look back on all the work we have done this year to amalgamate the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute. We are looking forward to introducing our new organization to you in the upcoming months, along with exploring with you the ways that we can continue to partner to accelerate improvements in healthcare quality and patient safety. As you too reflect on the turning of the year, I hope that you take a break if you are able and share special moments with loved ones in any way you can. Take care, be well, and stay safe, Jennifer Zelmer Follow @jenzelmer12/11/2020 3:00:00 PM The Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement recently amalgamated. CEO of CPSI Chris Power retired,1/7/2021 6:33:35 PM771https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
Introducing the heART of Healthcare: Safety, Healing and Partnership - an online art gallery 1854112/10/2020 3:18:08 PMPatient Safety News In 2021 we are celebrating Patients for Patient Safety Canada's 15-year anniversary. As part of this celebration, we will build an online, virtual art gallery of paintings, quilts or yarnwork, poetry and stories, sculpture, dance and song from people across Canada. These works will celebrate art as a way to express patient safety, prevent harm, heal after harm, and engage patients and families as partners. It will feature work from patients, healthcare workers, leaders, and our partners from every walk of life. Our ultimate objective is to increase awareness and strive for the improvements in our healthcare system to keep every patient safe. So, please if you create art in any form, at any level, inspired by this theme, we invite you to sign up for our heART of Healthcare mailing list. We will inform you as we progress in building our online gallery, and let you know how to share your artwork with us so we can feature it. Sign up "Too Soon" by Kim Neudorf, Patients for Patient Safety Canada If you have any questions, we invite you to contact patients@cpsi-icsp.ca. 12/10/2020 3:00:00 PMIn 2021 we are celebrating Patients for Patient Safety Canada 's 15-year anniversary. As part of this celebration, we will build an online, virtual2/12/2021 7:28:04 PM2329https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
Taking Action: Five Policy Levers to Improve Patient Safety1873812/10/2020 3:30:44 PMPatient Safety News​A Conversation between the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety and CPSI The longstanding relationship between the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety (MIPS) and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) is a mutually beneficial, dynamic, and supportive one. When CPSI sought out a partner to test out a new policy framework through which patient safety could be introduced to government decision-makers, MIPS was among the first to sign on! CPSI's strategic plan for 2018-2023 promises to lead health system-level strategies to ensure safe healthcare by demonstrating what works and by strengthening commitment. Patient safety incidents in total (acute care and home care combined) are the third leading cause of death, behind cancer and heart disease with just under 28,000 deaths across Canada (in 2013). This is equivalent to such harm events occurring in Canada every one minute and 18 seconds, resulting in a death every 13 minutes and 14 seconds. This rate and scale of harm is unacceptable. Strengthening Commitment for Improvement Together A Policy Framework for Patient Safety focuses on key policy levers available to influence system changes. As the national thought leader in patient safety, CPSI supports provincial/territorial governments, health system leaders, and other policy actors to develop and enhance legislation, regulations, standards and organizational policies to improve patient safety. CPSI also engages with the public to raise awareness about patient safety. ​ Jan Byrd and Laurie Thompson MIPS was thrilled to consult on the development of the policy framework. Laurie Thompson, Executive Director of MIPS, believes "it would have been invaluable to our early work, when the landscape was very different. For us, and organizations starting out on or refreshing their patient safety agenda, the framework will serve as an excellent guide." Laurie Thompson, Jan Byrd and Renee Misfeldt (co-authors of CPSI's Policy Framework), worked together to offer examples of MIPS initiatives that illustrate the framework's five policy levers in action! 1 Legislation Government leadership is essential for putting into place protections to address and reduce patient safety incidents in healthcare. MIPS assesses legislation with a patient safety lens. During the latest review of the Personal Health Information Act, MIPS posed questions about disclosure of information to patients/families such as "Is there enough emphasis on the balance of privacy, with the needs of patients and families to have information in order to make decisions?" and "Are there positive messages being conveyed in the educational materials about patient and family centred care principles as they relate to provision of information in a timely way?" 2 Regulation Embedding patient safety within professional self-regulation sets out clear expectations for safe patient care by healthcare providers. MIPS has worked on a number of projects over the years with regulators to strengthen patient safety such as The Importance And Impact of An Apology An Information Sheet, to support regulators in promoting apology as an essential component of disclosure of patient harm. Since 2016, MIPS has partnered with the Manitoba Alliance of Health Regulatory Colleges on a new provincial patient safety reporting and learning system to extend opportunities for creating safety, learning and improvement across disciplines and sites of care. 3 Standards Accreditation is an important driver for patient safety and quality improvement. MIPS creates tools and resources for use by service delivery organizations that meet accreditation standards. Examples include a tool to support policies in eliminating the use of dangerous abbreviations, dose designations and symbols; a tool to provide clear messaging to patients, families and healthcare providers about the critical incident process; and a family of resources entitled "It's Safe to Ask" supporting patient/client engagement, self-advocacy, and health literacy. The It's Safe to Ask suite of resources – initially led by CPSI's own Jan Byrd in 2005! - was a specific request from regional health authorities during the early years to support accreditation. 4 Organizational Policies Improving safety requires an organizational culture that enables and prioritizes patient safety. MIPS initiated governance education in 2006, working with provincial leaders. Boards assessed their governance education needs against leading practices in governance for patient safety and quality. MIPS worked with CPSI to test governance education and continued to offer tailored programs for several years, with evaluations noting a positive impact in governance practices. 5 Public Engagement MIPS has been committed to engaging the public since early in their existence. In addition to a collection of self-advocacy tools and resources, extensive social media, volunteer-led public presentations and information sessions, MIPS hosted nine public forums in a series, "We listen, We learn, We evolve". These forums are opportunities for patients/families and the public to meet and talk about patient safety issues and concerns. Can you see your work within the 5 Policy Levers we have outlined? Please reach out and let us know at jbyrd@cpsi-icsp.ca 12/10/2020 3:00:00 PMA Conversation between the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety and CPSI The longstanding relationship between the Manitoba Institute for Patient12/10/2020 5:29:48 PM701https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
Atlantic Learning Exchange mobilizes energy and enthusiasm for patient safety and quality1844612/1/2020 5:08:35 PMSuper SHIFTERS<img alt="Leslie Ann Rowsell" src="/en/NewsAlerts/News/PublishingImages/2020/Leslie%20Ann%20Rowsell%20Thumbnail%202020-12-01.jpg" style="BORDER&#58;0px solid;" /> #SuperSHIFTER Leslie Ann Rowsell was Chair of the Atlantic Learning Exchange held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in October 2019. The Atlantic Learning Exchange brings together healthcare professionals from the four Atlantic provinces to discover innovative and emerging trends in patient safety and quality improvement. What can you tell us about the Atlantic Learning Exchange? The Atlantic Learning Exchange (ALE) is a wonderful opportunity for people in Atlantic Canada to come together to discuss their work in patient safety and quality. We offer the opportunity for people to showcase their work and what they are doing in their respective regions. To engage ALE delegates, our presenters go through a rapid-fire process to talk about their projects for about five minutes as well as display poster and story boards. It also opens doors for people who are in this line of work to meet with various vendors and sponsors. It provides conversation time and exposure to things that our delegates may not necessarily see every day. In a nutshell, the ALE is a great networking opportunity for like-minded individuals to connect, broaden their knowledge, and take that knowledge translation back to their workplace. Tell us about your experience as Chair of the event? It was great fun to be the Chair of such a phenomenal event. I haven't been on the planning side of many healthcare conferences, so I was a newbie when it comes to this level of work. In 2015, I was approached by our Vice-President Clinical Supports and the Director of Quality Risk and Patient Safety, who were responsible for Quality at Eastern Health to be the provincial representative on the planning committee for these conferences. I attended the 2015 and 2017 conferences before taking on the Chair role for the Conference here in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2019. Everyone on the planning committee works full-time and the conference planning is in addition to our regular work. It requires the help of everyone in all the Atlantic provinces to help ensure there is adequate representation from each province attending the event, and for the storyboards and rapid-fire presentations. But the ALE also needs a commitment of organizations to send people to the Conference. It's definitely a team effort to pull an event like this together. In the beginning days, we thought it may have been difficult to attract delegates because air travel is expensive and it's not easy to drive to our province at that time of the year. The response was overwhelming and in the end we maximized the room capacity and had to turn people away. What makes the Atlantic Learning Exchange unique? The ALE is designed by Atlantic Canadians, for Atlantic Canada. Because the geography of Atlantic Canada is somewhat small, we bring a grassroots perspective with people on the planning committee representing all four provinces. As a group, we pick the theme and design the agenda. We have a lot of flexibility when it comes to our speakers and how we spend the money entrusted to us to run the ALE. Because there is so much input from all provinces, the agenda is very relevant and applicable for everyone in the room. The Atlantic Learning Exchange has been successful because we have been able to work together and network together. We have been able to help keep the costs down so that people can afford to come. And, we have made the event something meaningful that happens every second year. What were some of the highlights of the 2019 ALE for you? Jeffrey Braithwaite was one of our keynote speakers and he wowed the audience with his knowledge on patient safety. There was so much rich content in his presentation, and I have become quite interested in his work in systems improvement and now follow him on Twitter. To encourage resilience, Braithwaite suggests Look at what goes right, not just what goes wrong; When something goes wrong, begin by understanding how it (otherwise) usually goes right. Look at frequent events, not just severe ones; Be proactive about safety - try to anticipate developments and events; and Be thorough, as well as efficient (the ETTO principle – efficiency-thoroughness trade-off). Marlies van Dijk from Alberta Health Services Design Lab delivered a powerful presentation demonstrating how the biggest opportunities to transform health care lie not within strategies or processes, but within mindsets. Marlies reinforced the importance of knowing your team, and networking within work to build your own resources and strengths. When you connect with people who build you up and you find those people to trust, brainstorm and work with, you will find your supporters! There was also an interesting presentation from the Hacking Health team at Eastern Health and their work to hack no-show rates. Hacking Health fosters collaborative innovation by engaging key groups of stakeholders to create solutions to healthcare challenges as a mindset, not a skill-set. Where can we go for more information? Copies of the presentations from the 2019 ALE are available on the Canadian Patient Safety Institute's website. Click here to access the presentations. If you have questions about the ALE, contact me at LeslieAnnRowsell@EasternHealth.ca. 12/1/2020 7:00:00 AM#SuperSHIFTER Leslie Ann Rowsell was Chair of the Atlantic Learning Exchange held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in October 2019. The12/2/2020 8:25:30 PM1329https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
CFHI and CPSI welcome Government of Canada’s $6.4 million investment in pandemic preparedness and response long-term care and retirement homes1846112/1/2020 11:06:09 PM "Yesterday, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, tabled Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19 Fall Economic Statement 2020. We welcome the $6.4 million investment the Government of Canada is making to expand the LTC+ Acting on Pandemic Learning Together initiative which is helping long-term care and retirement homes strengthen their pandemic preparedness and response. This additional funding is part of their commitment to help provinces and territories protect long-term care and other supportive care facilities. The funding will allow LTC+ to support up to 1000 teams delivering care for adults in congregate living settings across Canada. Through LTC+, teams are able to rapidly share with and learn from each other, prepare for possible future outbreaks, and work to mitigate the pandemic's effects through coaching, funding, virtual learning opportunities and peer-to-peer support. We owe it to those affected by early outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care and retirement homes to learn from their experiences and hard-won lessons. These homes all have the common goal of protecting their residents and staff and LTC+ is helping them to come together quickly and efficiently. Teams are focusing on six promising practices to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response preparation; prevention; people in the workforce; pandemic response and surge capacity; planning for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care; and presence of family. LTC+ is being delivered by the newly amalgamated organization that brings together the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Canadian Patient Safety Institute. LTC+ is supported by our partners the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council, New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes and CADTH and with funding support from the CMA Foundation. If your team is delivering care to older adults in congregate care settings and interested in LTC+, you can find out more details here or reach out to the team via LTC-SLD@cfhi-fcass.ca." Jennifer Zelmer President and CEO The newly amalgamated organization that brings together CFHI and CPSI works with partners to share proven healthcare innovations and best practices in patient safety and healthcare quality. Working together with patients and other partners, we can deliver lasting improvement in patient experience, work life of healthcare providers, value for money and the health of everyone in Canada. The organization is a not-for-profit charity funded by Health Canada. Visit cfhi-fcass.ca and patientsafetyinstitute.ca for more information. The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada. 12/1/2020 7:00:00 AM"Yesterday, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, tabled Supporting Canadians and Fighting12/2/2020 2:13:40 PM455https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
In Jennifer Zelmer’s Words: Adaptation and Amalgamation 1853511/18/2020 9:09:06 PMPatient Safety News<img alt="" src="/en/NewsAlerts/News/PublishingImages/Jennifer%20Zelmer.png?Width=140" width="140" style="BORDER&#58;0px solid;" /> ​The Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement recently amalgamated. CEO of CPSI Chris Power retired, and CFHI CEO Jennifer Zelmer was named President and CEO for the newly amalgamated organization. In this monthly blog, Jennifer shares her thoughts about this month's Digital Magazine topic. Across the country, many regions are facing another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's a tough time - one that is forcing all of us to call on our own resilience, as well as that of our communities, organizations, and healthcare systems. Our ability to adapt to change is being tested. We are grateful to those working to ensure the health of everyone in Canada and globally and wish to recognize the innovative ways that healthcare systems and healthcare workers are responding to the needs of the people they serve. In turn, we are working hard to support their efforts, building on hard-won lessons from the pandemic. Safety in long-term care has emerged as an important issue. To respond, we launched LTC+ Acting on Pandemic Learning Together, which is already supporting hundreds of long-term care and retirement homes as they strengthen their pandemic preparedness and response. We welcome others to join, develop an action plan, and access resources and tools, coaching, and a nationwide community of practice. Teams that join before December 18 can receive up to $10,000 to accelerate implementation of six promising practices. Also upcoming is policy guidance to support the safe reintegration of essential care partners into healthcare facilities during a pandemic, developed in partnership with patients, families, caregivers, policy makers, administrators, and healthcare providers. This comprehensive approach balances risks, while embodying the principles of patient- and family-centred and partnered care. We hosted a webinar to preview the guidance and will be publishing the report next week. During the pandemic and beyond, we also need to continue to work on a broad range of patient safety challenges. We were delighted to engage with so many committed to doing so during the recent Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW). Over the course of the week, our social media engagement and public service announcements reached millions of people with the #ConquerSilence campaign and how to keep ourselves safe in #VirtualCare, along with the webinar "What does ideal virtual care look like?" During the Safety Improvement Projects Closing Congress that week, teams from across the country met to share their successes and collaborate as they connected with experts in knowledge translation, quality improvement, patient engagement, and resiliency. I invite you to watch the highlights video to find out what all the buzz was about, and reach out to learn about the 18-month projects. And the week ended with a successful Canadian Quality and Patient Safety Framework launch, in conjunction with our partners at Health Standards Organization. Endorsed by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Federal Minister for Health, the Framework offers a shared focus on 5 enduring goals people-centred, safe, accessible, appropriate, and integrated care. Finally, I want to share a bit about the progress we have been making with the amalgamation of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of health systems with a strong focus on quality and safety improvement. Creating a single quality and safety organization with an expanded capacity to improve healthcare for everyone in Canada seems even more relevant now than when we first embarked on this journey. We began CPSW by announcing our new Board, my own appointment as CEO and President, and our Senior Leadership Team. We remain committed to completing our current plans and programs while engaging with stakeholders to develop our new strategy and plan for next year. The commitment to partnerships that was central to both CPSI and CFHI will continue into the new organization. That includes partnering with patients, families, and caregivers, as well as being guided by the perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in enhancing cultural safety in health systems. We are looking forward to introducing our new organization to you in the upcoming months, along with exploring with you the ways that we can partner to improve healthcare quality and patient safety. Take care, be well, and stay safe, Jennifer Zelmer 11/18/2020 9:00:00 PM The Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement recently amalgamated. CEO of CPSI Chris Power retired,12/1/2020 4:53:23 PM364https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
Together, let’s #ThinkDigitalHealth1874811/18/2020 9:21:30 PMPatient Safety News ​ Digital Health Week (November 16-22, 2020) is an annual celebration and recognition of how digital health is transforming the delivery of care across Canada as more and more of our health care system becomes digital. In a turbulent 2020, we have shown we are resilient and innovative. Adoption of digital health tools — from virtual consultations to new apps to access to your personal health information — has accelerated. As a result, people across the country have been able to access the care that they need, and digital health will continue to play an important role in a brighter future. Check out our valuable digital health resources for patients and healthcare providers to improve virtual care appointments. We are proud to partner with Canada Health Infoway during Digital Health Week 2020, a time for Canadians to celebrate this progress and show their support for digital health. Join the Digital Health Week conversation and share your story. #ThinkDigitalHealth 11/18/2020 9:00:00 PM Digital Health Week  (November 16-22, 2020) is an annual celebration and recognition of how digital health is transforming the delivery of11/18/2020 10:29:26 PM238https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
Handle With Care: Doing Our Part to Preserve Antimicrobials1844311/16/2020 9:14:01 PMPatient Safety NewsAntimicrobial Awareness Week, November 18-24 Antimicrobial Substances such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, used to destroy or inhibit the growth of respective microbes. In the face of the pandemic, worldwide attention has been placed on health, illness and death, and the burden containment has on our livelihoods. We are pressured to consider our personal health and the health of our family and community in ways we are unaccustomed to. We are reminded that being healthy, in the context of a pandemic, is important, but may not be enough. Polarized views exist on prevention, immunity, vaccination, infection control, safeguarding health versus safeguarding the economy, and whether enough is being done to protect Canadians, particularly the vulnerable. While many are immersed in media reportage, others say they are tired of the inundation and unsolicited advice. The week of November 18-24 is Antimicrobial Awareness Week. Although we are rightfully focused on COVID-19, we cannot forget the impact of antimicrobial resistance and its effects, particularly as more Canadians are hospitalized with COVID-19. Unfortunately, some individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may require prolonged hospitalization. Furthermore, they may develop additional bacterial or fungal infections that are resistant to first line antimicrobial treatment. Longstanding overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs in humans, animals, plants, food, animal feed, and the environment has resulted in the evolution of these stubborn, resistant organisms. Antimicrobial resistant organisms may be transmitted in healthcare environments putting patients receiving standard care, such as dialysis, surgery, or a C-section at risk. Antimicrobial drugs are highly valued, but sometimes inappropriately used. Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Assistant Director General for the WHO, emphasises the importance of the right drug, for the right person, at the right time. "Never is someone given an antihypertensive drug or cancer therapy without being diagnosed with cancer or hypertension. Yet, antibiotics are given [at times, unnecessarily] as a gesture of love or care." Unnecessary prescriptions, sharing antibiotics with others, or not completing our prescription contributes to the reduced effectiveness of antimicrobials. Replenishing the shelves with alternative antimicrobial medications is an arduous research process; therefore as a society, we cannot count on a rapid production of new medications for each resistant organism. We can however, try to avoid infections. In the context of the pandemic there are proven practices we can participate in—deliberate hand hygiene, distance, don a mask, disinfect, diagnose and detect contacts, and "do not" go out if ill (7Ds). If we must enter a healthcare facility including longterm care, as a patient or to support loved ones, we must protect ourselves and those we care about. In addition to the 7Ds don't be shy about reminding healthcare workers to wash their hands and thank them when they do; if the environment doesn't seem clean or equipment such as a thermometer or stethoscope hasn't been disinfected between patients—speak up, until you are satisfied; if you are instructed to wear and subsequently remove a gown, mask and gloves (PPE), ensure you are given the training and support you need to do this safely. A healthy lifestyle and illness prevention are more important now than ever. We have authority over our health and our behaviours. Healthcare has authority over appropriate antimicrobial use and environmental cleanliness. Let's unite to prevent infection. Let's unite to preserve antimicrobials. By Kim Neudorf We thank and acknowledge AMMI Canada for their revisions to this article. 11/16/2020 9:00:00 PMAntimicrobial Awareness Week, November 18-24 Antimicrobial: Substances such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, used11/23/2020 5:22:55 PM838https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx
A tribute to SuperSHIFTER Virginia Flintoft: a maven of measurement1844711/6/2020 8:23:28 PMSuper SHIFTERS ​Virginia Flintoft has been a driving force in Canada's patient safety movement from the early years when she worked on the Canadian Adverse Events Study. Her grassroots, salt of the earth approach has underlined her efforts as a workhorse for patient safety and a maven of measurement. Virginia Flintoft, known to most as Ginny, became a nurse because she wanted to help people. Her interest in and commitment to improving patient care has guided the evolution of her career spanning more than 50 years. Ginny says she has been incredibly lucky to work with academic leaders at the top of their game in cardiovascular care, interventional cardiology, clinical medical research, health services research and advancing patient safety. Most people, however, say they have been incredibly lucky to work with Ginny! As she retires at the end of November, Ginny's parting words of wisdom are to seize the moment, learn from each other, and value and share each other's knowledge. Ginny received her nursing diploma (RN) from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal; Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Calgary; and MSc in Design, Measurement and Evaluation (Clinical Epidemiology) from McMaster University. Her clinical experience was primarily in cardiac and cardiovascular intensive care nursing and as a research coordinator in clinical medical research in a number of healthcare facilities across Canada. She worked for 12 years as a senior research coordinator at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) managing health services research projects and providing research support to leading scientists including Drs. C. David Naylor and Jack V. Tu. In the late 90s, she was recruited by Dr. Adalsteinn Brown to work as a senior research associate at the University of Toronto's Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. They were looking for someone who was a whiz at managing complex projects, and understood measurement and data, to work on a performance report for Ontario hospitals. Then, in 2002, Drs. G. Ross Baker and Peter Norton approached Ginny to manage the Canadian Adverse Events study and be an active member of their team. "I have worked with Virginia very intensely for more than 20 years and she has been a great, but not always externally visible, influence on the success of a variety of high-profile initiatives in this country," says Ross Baker. "She has worked harder than anyone I know. She is one of the last to leave her office and is literally always available to talk about issues and to deal with problems that have emerged in that work. She is so very dedicated to the broader goals of improving safety and quality of care across the country. I don't think we can underestimate the kind of impact that she's had, being one of the critical people in this work." In 2005, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) launched Safer Healthcare Now! and Ginny was called upon to manage the Central Measurement Team. "She was the logical person because she is so effective in managing complex distributed teams and working well with people at all levels," adds Baker. "She is respectful of others, including her colleagues and teammates, and very effective in talking to senior leaders. There is hardly anyone who does not find Virginia an easy person to work with. Those are really great qualities." Anne MacLaurin (Senior Program Manager, CPSI) was the Project Manager for Safer Healthcare Now! when she first connected with Ginny. They worked together on Patient Safety Metrics and most recently on the Measurement and Monitoring of Safety and the Safety Framework. "Ginny is the most committed and dedicated person that I have ever worked with," says Anne. "She always goes above and beyond what is expected or required of her in terms of the time she gives and the work that she does. She is a great colleague and lots of fun to work with." When Ginny was in a bicycle accident that acutely injured her shoulder and knee, she gave the ambulance attendant her cellphone to call Anne and tell her that she was unable to make a scheduled meeting. In no time, Ginny had her computer set-up and was working from her hospital bed. A slow recovery did not deter Ginny -- she arranged for an electric wheelchair so that she could attend the first learning session of the Measurement and Monitoring of Safety Framework. "Come hell or high water, she was not going to miss that," says Anne. "She will go above and beyond to make sure she doesn't miss anything. That is her passion, commitment and work ethic." Wayne Miller (Senior Program Manager, CPSI) worked with Ginny for the past four years on implementing two Safety Improvement Projects (SIPs). "It has been an enjoyable opportunity to learn alongside Ginny as we explored the Canadian experience with the Measurement and Monitoring Framework and the Medication Safety SIPs," says Wayne. "Ginny's drive and desire to see improvements in patient safety is a force that has helped move many important initiatives forward." "As a fellow nurse and quality and patient safety colleague, Ginny's commitment to the quality and safety of patient care has been unwavering," says Maryanne D'Arpino, Senior Director, CPSI. "With all of the work she touched, we could always count on her broad perspective and lessons learned. I am always baffled at the never-ending extent of her network. We often say, 'ask Ginny, she probably knows them'." Alexandru Titeu (Project Manager, Central Measurement Team), has shared a two-desk office with Ginny for the past 10 years. "Ginny has been a relentless advocate of patient safety with the underlying philosophy of always listen to your customer," says Alex. "One thing that I learned from Ginny is that you need to help people and make things easy for them. We made a good team, and she has been a very good mentor and teacher. Ginny has a very good didactic quality; she doesn't tell you how to do something, instead she guides you on how to get results." Ginny is very grateful for the wonderful opportunities and terrific memories she holds from her career. She wants to stay connected with her lifetime work and perhaps do some consulting when the opportunity comes along. In the meantime, she is looking forward to volunteering, spending time with her grandchildren, and post-COVID travelling with her husband. "A long time ago someone shared a Patrick Overton quote with me," says Ginny. "When you come to the edge of all the light you have and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of two things will happen. Either there will be something solid for you to stand on - or you will be taught how to fly. I go forward with that in my heart knowing that I have truly been blessed." 11/6/2020 8:00:00 PM Virginia Flintoft has been a driving force in Canada's patient safety movement from the early years when she worked on the Canadian Adverse Events11/6/2020 8:39:03 PM649https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/NewsAlerts/News/Pages/Forms/AllItems.aspxhtmlFalseaspx