“I Made a Difference” returns for an encore
Last year we asked you to share the simple and complex stories of how you — or your team –have gone above and beyond in caring for our patients/clients/residents and their families. Our goal was to recognize and share the many examples of patient and family centered care that we know are out there, but are rarely celebrated.
In response, we received more than 350 submissions from across VCH that spoke to the WHY you do what you do as well as the incredible, collective heart behind it all.
Putting clients and their families at the centre of care is what we do every day, and we want provide another opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate it.
Share your stories from the past year with us
Did you or your team go above and beyond in partnering with clients or their families sometime this past year? We want to hear your stories, simple or complex. Here are some VCH Richmond examples from last year’s contest to get you thinking:
- Whenever a patient comes into the OR, I talk with them as I help to get them ready for their surgery. I hold their hands or shoulders as they go to sleep. I make sure to tell them that they are safe, that I have their back – OR, Richmond Hospital.
- Sometimes, it is as simple as escorting a lost patient to the proper clinic, family member to the proper unit, smiling and talking to them as you take them to where they need to go, taking 5 minutes out of your day to help put them at ease. I know what I would like and that is what I try to do for others. While I don’t do hands on clinical work I feel that my job can make a difference in someone’s day – Richmond Hospital, Staffing Office.
- Recognizing when my patient is in emotional distress and lending a pair of open ears – Richmond ERN.
- When patients come for emergency surgery their anxiety levels are often high. I spend extra time explaining things to them and their families to help ease their concerns – OR, Richmond Hospital.
- I work with the birth centre team to be sure every baby is skin-to-skin with their mom as soon after birth as possible so that little newborn feels safe and secure, close to mom’s beating heart and the warmth of her body’s love – Richmond Birth Centre physician.
- When my patients are under local sedation and having a procedure done, I put my hand on their shoulder – OR, Richmond Hospital.
- I follow patients throughout their journey from the ED, during their inpatient stay and after discharge, when they return home to the community. I connect with them at all stages of this journey to help me understand the patient and family perspective. – Chief Operating Officer, VCH Richmond.
How to enter
All submissions will be reviewed and considered for one of three free registrations to BC Patient Safety & Quality Council’s Quality Forum (http://qualityforum.ca/) February 2018. A selection of these submissions will also be featured in the VCH News over the coming months.
Contest closes Friday, November 17th, 2017 – submit early to be eligible for each of the three monthly prizes.
To enter, email your submission to lisa.stewart@vch.ca (Quality & Patient Safety) with the subject line “I/We made a difference.” We look forward to reading your stories – Good luck!
Liza Ahyeng
1.Staying with the family for more than 30 minutes offering emotional support, and providing available professional support e.g. social worker referral. Offering a box of kleenex , a glass of water shows our care to them. Knowing that we care for their love ones and patient’s family, this gives a positive experience in their hospital stay
2. Trying to find affordable hotel accomadation for patient who was a transient tourist that was discharged from the hospital and his flight back to Austria was the following day. On my breaktime I drove the patient to the hotel to make sure he will not get lost.