CKHA Quality Improvement Plan: Our promise to our patients and their families

The Excellent Care for All Act required that we develop a Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) Quality Improvement Plan and publicly post it by April 1, 2011. The CKHA Quality Improvement Plan demonstrates our commitment to high quality healthcare, a positive patient experience, accountability to the public and transparency

The three main themes and objectives of our Quality Improvement Plan are:

• Saving Lives




• Avoiding new skin pressure ulcers


• Reducing the incidence of C. difficile infections
  


• Improving Effectiveness & Access




• Reducing Wait Times in the Emergency Department


• Improving Patient Satisfaction




• Improving scores for in-patients and out-patients in the ED: “Would you recommend this hospital to your friends & family?”

The Quality Improvement Plan is CKHA’s pledge to provide the highest quality of care for the patient’s we serve. The Plan can be found on the CKHA website: http://www.ckha.on.ca/ under the ‘About Us’ tab on the upper menu bar and following the link under Quality Improvement Plan.

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month!

Brain injury is the number one killer and disabler of younger Canadians. The cost of brain injury to Canadian society is immense—estimated to be more than $1 billion per year.

Head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on wheels (i.e., bikes, rollerblades, skateboards etc.) and most of the serious brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. Children are also at a higher risk for head injuries in a motor vehicle crash when they are not restrained properly. It is essential that parents and caregivers use car seats, booster seats, and seat belts as intended. Here are the general guidelines:

• Children must use a rear-facing car seat until at least one year of age and at least 10 kg (22 pounds).


• A forward-facing car seat may be used until they weigh at least 18 kg (40 pounds), which is normally reached at about age 4 or 5 years.


• A booster seat should then be used until the child is at least 36 kg (80 pounds) and 145 cm (57 in.) tall, typically reached at about 9 years of age.


• Children can transition to a using just a seat belt once it rests in the correct position on their body.

Set a good example by always wearing a helmet while cycling and wearing your seat belt while in a vehicle. Always use proper child safety seats and boosters for your children. They’re depending on you!

June 6 – 12 is Sun Awareness Week: Protect the skin you’re in!

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds plays a leading role in the development of melanoma and other skin cancers.

Skin Cancer Facts:

• Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, will be diagnosed in 2,500 Ontarians this year.


• The number of cases of melanoma is increasing. In Canada, the lifetime risk of melanoma for men is now 1 in 74. For women, it is 1 in 90. In comparison, the lifetime risk of melanoma in the 1930s was 1 in 1,500.


• Over 74,000 Canadians will also be diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer this year.

Sun Sense:

1. Schedule outdoor activities before 11 am or after 4 pm and use maximum sun protection if outside between noon and 2 pm.


2. Plan ahead. Find out the UV Index rating forecast and use it to guide your activities and protection.


3. Wear loose, lightweight clothing that covers as much of the body as possible, whenever possible.


4. Wear a hat with a 7.5 cm (3 inch) or wider brim and be sure it also covers the back of your neck.


5. Use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher, and use a water resistant, sweat resistant or sport sunscreen if you are involved in activities in water or will perspire a lot during the activity. Reapply it often.

Protect the skin you’re in … be fit and be sun safe!

Crystals' Corner - 1 Year Anniversary

Patient and Family Values – What matters most to you?

The ultimate goal at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance(CKHA) is that patients receive quality, safe care in an environment of respect and trust for all partners. Engaging patients and families helps to improve all aspects of the healthcare experience. This week, the CKHA Tri-board endorsed the patient and family values created through public consultationled by the Patient and Family Centred Care Steering Committee.

The Excellent Care for All Act requires all hospitals have a declaration of patient values in place by June 8, 2011. Since November of 2010, thePatient and Family Centred Care Steering Committee dedicated their time, passion, and commitment to develop this document. Public consultation provided the committee with the opportunity to hear from patients, caregivers, and the public at large, ensuring that the values created reflect what is important to patients and their families. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input to create these values. And thank you committee members for work well done!

The Excellent Care for All Act also requires the valuesdocument beavailable to the patients and families of CKHA. The Patient and Family Values will be available on the hospital website and in pamphlet form throughout the organization.

CKHA wants to create the environment patients and families need and expect. We now know what matters most – and will strive to always consider these values in the provision of care to you.Through engaging patients and families, patient and family values have been created – reflective of what matters most to you.