April 13, 2023 at 11:04 am
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) has selected long-term care homes in London and St. Thomas to join its Best Practice Focused Organizing Program.
Mount Hope Long-Term Care in London and Valleyview Home in St. Thomas are part of 15 nursing homes in Ontario that will implement evidence-based care under the plan. The association said the homes were selected through a “rigorous proposal process”. The program provides nurses and other healthcare professionals with the latest evidence-based knowledge aimed at improving care, quality of life and health outcomes for older adults.
Under the accession agreement, selected long-term care homes must implement at least three of the association’s more than 50 clinical best practice guidelines within three years. This will be done with the support of the Best Practice Program Coordinator.
“We are delighted that these LTC homes are joining a community of global health organizations committed to clinical excellence to improve the health and well-being of the populations they serve,” said Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO and program founder. “We applaud these families for their commitment to optimizing daily care and outcomes for residents, and know that this program will empower their staff and residents through evidence-based practice and active staff engagement.”
Other Southwest long-term care homes selected include Windsor’s Heron Terrace Long-Term Care Community and Petrolia’s Fiddick’s Nursing Home & Retirement Home Ltd. Five residences in Ottawa, three in Toronto and one each in Stoney Creek, North York and Arn Pryor have also been included in the scheme.
The families will use the International Data System to monitor progress and evaluate the program’s results. After a pre-designated period, these families can be upgraded to full best practice spotlight organizational status and mentor future peers.
Launched in 2003, the program now has more than 1,500 best practice focus groups in Ontario, Canada and internationally. These include various long-term care providers and hospital networks such as St. Joseph’s Health Care London and Middlesex Hospital Alliance.