Over the next three years, the hospital will use an interprofessional approach to implement and evaluate seven practice standards—called Best Practice Guidelines or BPGs—developed by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) and based on the latest evidence and research.

“We’ve selected guidelines that will have the greatest impact on the health and well-being of the patients and families we serve,” says Mike McDonald, Acting Chief of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Executive. “Incorporating them into the hands-on practice of our nurses not only integrates evidence-based research into patient care but also enhances patient safety and the quality of our work environment.

“It all adds up to an excellent care experience for patients and families.”

Five BPGs will drive the project in various areas of patient care at Hotel Dieu: enhancing client-centred care and preventing falls and related injuries in clinics across the hospital; assessing and managing pain in the pain clinic; reducing foot complications in people with diabetes in the Diabetes Education and Management Centre; and supporting families through unexpected life events such as a cancer diagnosis in the Breast Assessment Program.

In addition, the hospital will implement two guidelines—collaborative practice among nursing teams and professionalism in nursing—related to creating a healthy work environment.

The project stems from the hospital’s participation in the Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) program, a partnership with the RNAO that focuses on improving patient outcomes.

Hotel Dieu will receive $120,000 from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to implement and assess the BPGs over the three years. It will then “graduate” to become a full-fledged BPSO, with a commitment to incorporating further BPGs and mentoring other BPSO candidates.

Hotel Dieu Hospital is the ambulatory care teaching and research hospital for Kingston and Southeastern Ontario, affiliated with Queen’s University. We provide expert care to more than 500,000 people in the region through specialized programs including pediatrics, medicine, cardiology, surgery, mental health, oncology and urgent care. We deliver quality, safe health care, while advancing innovative research and educating the health care professionals of the future. Leading the transformation of ambulatory care

L'Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu est l'établissement de soins ambulatoires universitaire pour Kingston et le Sud-Est de l'Ontario affilié à l’Université Queen's. Il fournit des soins spécialisés à plus de 500 000 personnes de la région. Parmi ses services spécialisés, mentionnons les services de pédiatrie, de médecine, de cardiologie, de chirurgies, de santé mentale, d’oncologie et de soins d'urgence. L'hôpital fournit des services de soins de santé sûrs et de qualité tout en menant des recherches novatrices et en formant les professionnels de la santé de demain.Chef de file pour la transformation des soins ambulatoires