Our thanks to Nate Lewis, Senior Advisor, Communications, Ontario Health, for authoring this post.
Our health system is filled with dedicated professionals and
teams who are constantly pushing the boundaries of health care quality and
innovation.
On Thursday,
September 26, the inaugural Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation Awards
took place at the University of Toronto, celebrating the remarkable
achievements in health care across the province. The event highlighted the
dedication and hard work of various teams and individuals who have made
significant contributions to improving health care quality and patient
outcomes.
These
awards were a collaborative effort by Ontario Health, the Ontario Hospital
Association and the Ontario Medical Association, alongside the Dalla Lana
School of Public Health. This partnership underscores the collective commitment
to recognizing and promoting excellence in health care across Ontario –
wherever it exists.
Each of the
seven awards highlighted the extraordinary work that Ontario Health supports,
both directly and indirectly, throughout the province. Below is a list of the
winning teams that took home the first-ever Ontario Health System Quality and
Innovation Award.
- Improved
Patient Experience Award
– Connected Care at SickKids from The Hospital
for Sick Children. This project focuses on enhancing patient experience by
integrating various care services to provide seamless and coordinated care for
children and their families.
- Improved
Population Health Award
– SOS - Supportive Outreach Services by United Way
of Bruce Grey. This project aims to improve population health by offering
supportive outreach services that address the needs of vulnerable populations
in the region.
- Improved
Value and Sustainability Award
– The Toronto Regional Arthroplasty
Collaborative from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. This initiative is
designed to improve value and sustainability in health care by optimizing
arthroplasty (joint reconstruction) procedures and outcomes through regional
collaboration.
- Increased
Equity Award
– Mobile Medical Support: Bringing Quality Healthcare to Your
Front Door by Erie Shore HealthCare. This project increases equity by providing
mobile medical support to ensure that quality health care is accessible to all,
especially those in underserved areas.
- Improved
Care Team Well-being Award
– Hamilton Health Sciences SHINE Wellness
Program from Hamilton Health Sciences. This program focuses on improving the
well-being of care teams by promoting wellness and mental health among health
care professionals.
- Improved
Indigenous Health Award
– Bringing Specialist Care Close to Home:
Equitable Cardiovascular Care in the James and Hudson Bay Region of Ontario by
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. This project aims to improve Indigenous
health by bringing specialist cardiovascular care to remote and underserved
Indigenous communities.
- Excellence
in Health Communications Award
– Dementia Strategy Fund by Indus Community
Services. This project excels in health communications by creating a
comprehensive strategy to raise awareness and provide resources for dementia
care within the South Asian community.
Congratulations
to all the winners and participants for their exceptional contributions to
health care innovation and quality improvement. Your efforts are truly making a
difference in the lives of patients and communities across Ontario.