Picturing the possibilities in the VGH ED

Visit the VGH Emergency Department (ED) and you’ll see a collection of new artwork hanging in the team meeting room. The pictures are fearless, energetic and colourful — just like the women who painted them, and the staff and physicians they work alongside.

“Each picture represents a True North goal,” says Sarah Turner, head nurse. “They’re goals we all share, and they’re the foundation of where our team values are set.”

Each of the five original paintings represents one our VCH True North goals and can be viewed in the VGH ED team meeting room.

Sarah serves on the ED’s new frontline leadership team, which took its current form in January 2016. Through new roles and responsibilities, the expanded team supports about 200 frontline staff while managing patient flow at one of B.C.’s busiest emergency departments, and the only accredited Level 1 Trauma Centre in the province.

“As leaders, we aim to provide an extra layer of support and leadership in the ED so the frontline can do what they do best: focus on patient care,” says Lori Korchinski, ED patient services manager.

So, Lori Quinn, head nurse, Susan Harrison-Salt, head education nurse, and Jaime Gallaher, nurse clinician, joined Lori and Sarah in a team-building workshop incorporating our VCH True North goals and the team’s vision to work as one.

“We operate in a really complicated and challenging work environment and in order to have each other’s backs — and to support the larger ED team — you need to know a little bit about one another,” explains Lori.

Mission accomplished. “It was supposed to be an hour and a half, but we were there for close to three hours, and our conversation trickled outside the studio,” says Sarah, who painted “Provide the Best Care”.

The plan is to keep the momentum strong, adds Lori. “Together, and with the support of our colleagues, we’ll continue our efforts to enhance the ED working environment, and ensure staff always have someone approachable on the floor to support them.”