Staff members from Schlegel Seniors Villages receive the OLTCA Innovation of the Year award from OHQC CEO Ben Chan.
Specialty Care, Schlegel win OLTCA Quality Improvement awards
Convalescent Care Team and PSW Training Initiative recognized
Tuesday April 27, 2010 -- Camille Jensen
TORONTO - For their efforts to translate a deep resident commitment into quality improvement leadership, Specialty Care Woods Park and Schlegel Seniors Villages are being honoured with an Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) Quality Improvement award.

The inaugural awards program was presented at the OLTCA/Ontario Retirement Communities Association Together We Care convention April 26.

OLTCA CEO Christina Bisanz says it was during her first year as the association’s CEO that she discovered the many quality improvement initiatives underway, coupled with support from outside stakeholders such as the Ontario Health Quality Council (OHQC), government and academia, who are taking the efforts even further.

Under this “exciting” backdrop of quality improvement the OLTCA established the awards, which is recognizing Team of the Year and Innovation of the Year, and will recognize and support quality, foster and share best practices, while inspiring the sector to new heights, says Bisanz.

Woods Park Care Centre in Barrie won Team of the Year for their establishment of a convalescent care team that exceeded both their own and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care targets.

This included a client satisfaction rate above 95 per cent, and an average length of stay of six weeks — beating the six-and-a-half week target.

Additionally, the team was also able to improve the Resident Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS 2.0) scores for pain, activities of daily living and others for the more than 400 people who went through the program.

“The recipients are a stellar example of how a team focused on quality leadership within the home is making a difference for both residents and our health-care system,” says Bisanz.

Innovation of the Year was awarded to Schlegel Seniors Villages for their development of a personal support worker (PSWs) training initiative in partnership with Conestoga College.

The training program consists of 10 45-minute modules that are delivered to PSWs in their workplace and teach resident-centred care skills.

Upon completion, the PSW receives a certificate from the college.

Impacts from this course have included PSWs developing enhanced skills, contributing to residents’ health and greater ownership and awareness of their contribution to the care team.

Both award winning teams were welcomed on stage and received their recognition from Bisanz, OLTCA president Grace Sweatman, OHQC CEO Ben Chan and senior vice-president of Medical Pharmacies Stephen Pearson.

Medical Pharmacies sponsored the awards, an event Pearson says is integral to highlighting the tremendous dedication and hard work taking place in long-term care that often goes unnoticed.

“Your efforts and achievements to improve quality of life for the seniors of Ontario needs to be celebrated loud and long,” says Pearson.

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