FERGUS – Boards of directors for North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) and Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) recently met to discuss investments in a new physician order entry system, safe rooms and adopting a new patient declaration of values.
The boards approved an investment to improve the current physician electronic order entry system.
“We are moving towards more and more integration of computers into the physician workflow as our electronic systems within and without the hospitals expand,” explained NWHC chief of staff Dr. Chris Rowley.
“Our current system made the physicians reluctant to leap into computerized records at the hospital. Investing in a new system is a wonderful improvement. It will enable physicians to view data and write notes and orders in one place with easy availability of all the information needed for improved and more efficient patient care.
“We look forward to working with a clinician-friendly interface that will actually benefit us and the patients.”
The boards also approved an investment to build safe rooms at Louise Marshall Hospital (LMH) and Palmerston and District Hospital (PDH).
“Currently, patients entering the emergency room at either LMH or PDH in significant mental health distress do not have dedicated space for assessment,” stated NWHC and GMCH CEO Stephen Street.
“The safe rooms are an area where we have the ability to provide more private, dignified care for patients. It offers us an opportunity to care for those patients in a safer physical space.”
Both NWHC and GMCH corporations voted in favour of adopting the Waterloo Wellington Patient Declaration of Values.
“The new values reflect what matters most to patients and their families when accessing health care,” states Street.
The values statement was developed by the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Patient and Family Advisory Committee in collaboration with 20 patient and family groups from across the region, including representatives from all local hospitals.
Local clinicians were consulted and agreed the initiative should be driven by patients and their families.
The new patient declaration of values states patients can expect their health care to include:
– patient-centred care that understands patients are a whole person; treats them with compassion and respect; and includes their family and support system in care;
– a partnership with their care provider that shares responsibility and accountability with them; provides care and support to achieve health goals; and considers all health needs, connecting the patient to health and community services;
– communication that allows patients to be heard in a safe and caring environment; provides clear health information that they can understand; and shares open and transparent information with patients and care teams;
– equitable care that puts patients’ needs first regardless of their situation; eliminates barriers to receiving timely and safe services; and is free of prejudice, stigma and judgment; and
– continuous improvement that provides access to the best quality of care; increases access to new innovative technology and treatments; and contributes to patient confidence and trust.
