Best Practices

As an evolving knowledge organization, Saint Elizabeth Health Care (SEHC) is committed to ensuring that a strong evidence base underpins our decision making and health care practices. The knowledge we gain through implementing and evaluating best practice guidelines allows us to live this vision in a meaningful way.         

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Building nursing excellence as a Spotlight Organization
In January 2004, Saint Elizabeth Health Care was selected as one of seven Best Practice Spotlight Organizations in the province of Ontario. Working collaboratively with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), the objectives of our three-year partnership were to demonstrate creative strategies for the successful implementation of nursing BPGs; to evaluate implementation and outcome measures through audits and formal research; to disseminate knowledge; and, to use our newly-created knowledge in future implementation strategies. We have fulfilled these commitments by pilot testing evaluation tools for Subcutaneous Administration of Insulin for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes, and implementing the following three BPGs:

• Subcutaneous Administration of Insulin for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
• Assessment and Management of Pain, and
• Establishing Therapeutic Relationships.

Funding for this initiative was provided by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), with matching funds from Saint Elizabeth Health Care.

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Ongoing leadership as a designated BPSO
In April 2006, SEHC was formally and officially designated as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO). This new designation recognizes our continuous, pioneering efforts to raise the bar in evidence-based nursing practice by using BPGs in day-to-day patient care, and by evaluating their impact on clinical and health outcomes.

As a BPSO, SEHC is committed to sharing our experiences and expertise with other health care organizations interested in implementing Best Practice Guidelines. Building on the productive, collaborative work we completed during our initial three-year partnership with RNAO, this ongoing affiliation allows SEHC to extend our work with current and new guidelines, and ensure ongoing evaluation of their impact on patient, organizational and system outcomes.

 The real winners in this partnership are the Canadian public, the nursing community and our health care system as a whole.

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Healthy Work Environments Best Practice Guideline: Developing and Sustaining Leadership
Saint Elizabeth Health Care (SEHC), in partnership with the Niagara Health System, West Park Healthcare Centre and VON Canada, has received funding from Health Canada to take part in the Healthy Workplace Initiative.

Read the press release

Initial work on the project began in August 2005 and has included a literature review, an environmental assessment, a communication strategy, and the development of a project management team and a project workgroup. Our goal is to promote leadership at all levels and create an amazing work environment for staff.

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Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowships
Saint Elizabeth Health Care is proud to be a leader in supporting Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowships, in partnership with RNAO and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Since the program began in 2000, SEHC has been awarded a total of 15 fellowships – more than any other organization in the province of Ontario!

Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowships are mentoring experiences aimed at developing nursing knowledge and improving client care and outcomes. All of our fellows have successfully expanded their professional skills and expertise in their chosen area of focus. For more information, click here.

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A Model to Guide Hospice Palliative Care
As a member of the Standards Committee of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, Marilyn Lundy participated in a national consensus-building process in which she helped to develop, author and review national principles and norms of practice for palliative care. For more information, click here.