RENFREW — Renfrew Victoria Hospital earned a glowing review from Accreditation Canada after a three-day survey conducted on December 4 to 6, 2017.
“This is a milestone to be celebrated, and we congratulate you and your team for your commitment to providing safe, high quality health services,” wrote Julie Langlois, Chair, Accreditation Decision Committee in a December 20 letter informing RVH of receiving the highest award.
Accreditation Canada is a national non-profit organization that provides an external peer-review process to assess and improve the services that health institutions provide to their patients and clients, based on standards of excellence.
Keanan Stone, RVH Board Chair, noted that receiving this outstanding result from Accreditation Canada is a welcome validation of the passion and conviction the entire team at RVH shares for delivering the best possible health care experience for patients and their families, not just for a few days under observation, but when it really matters, every day of the year.
“It is without doubt because of our management, staff, physicians, and volunteers that we are able to continue improving our facilities and services year after year, Mr. Stone said. “They should all feel very proud of the roles they play in helping to achieve our vision of excellence, as I do, in this moment, and in every RVH achievement, whether great or small.”
At the survey debriefing meeting with RVH staff, physicians and board members, Accreditation Canada Surveyor Team Leader Marianne Walker announced that RVH met all of 31 Required Organizational Practices (ROPS) in priority areas such as patient safety, client and family centred care, ethics, risk management, and quality improvement. RVH also achieved an outstanding 99.3% compliance with the standards.
Ms. Walker went on to highlight some recent successes at RVH including development of the 2016–2021 Strategic Plan, noting the work that went into soliciting input from many sources.
“It’s a really tough job to get input from everybody—internally, externally—and then formulate the things you are going to do,” she said. “Now you have a clear direction in the journey of where you want to get to.”
She praised the development and integration of RVH’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), noting “You’re far ahead of where many organizations are.”
The surveyors were also impressed with the redevelopment of the regional nephrology centre and global funding for the renal program, as well as the construction of the new professional building to help attract physicians to the community.
In her overall comments, Ms. Walker remarked on the level staff and physician engagement and praised the teamwork that was witnessed.
“You work as a team,” she said adding, “You are all caring and compassionate in everything you do.”
She also made note of the hospital’s strong financial health and community partnerships and “high-functioning, dedicated” Board of Directors, as well as caring leadership who are “visible and accessible at all levels.”
The surveyors were pleased with the ongoing focus on patient safety and quality care and the specific attention to infection control and hand hygiene. “Your plan is very robust and comprehensive,” noted Ms. Walker.
When it came to client and family-centred care, Ms. Walker used the word “amazing” to describe the integration of PFAC members in clinical areas, the strategies and accomplishments. She pointed to new patient whiteboards in every room and revised visiting hours as examples of RVH’s response to PFAC feedback.
The RVH ethics committee was commended for its adoption of Evidence Based Ethical Decision-making framework, for being diverse and well-established, and providing support to physicians and staff facing an ethical dilemma.
“Staff and physicians feel comfortable bringing forward ethical issues,” said Ms. Walker.
The surveyors were pleased to find a robust quality management framework in place and quality teams at the departmental level.
“There is a good disclosure policy and learning is shared with others throughout the organization when something goes wrong or there is a risk,” noted Ms. Walker.
She shared that she and her co-surveyors felt very welcome at RVH.
“We heard a theme of family,” Ms. Walker said. “That’s what we saw and felt and that’s what your patients and families said. They feel part of a family. Be proud of what you do every day.”
Reflecting on the report and surveyors’ observation RVH CEO Randy Penney commented, “For our hospital, the Accreditation survey represents the single most comprehensive external review of all areas of our organization. This process, reviews all areas of the hospital from clinical to management to our Board. To achieve such a high compliance rating and having met all 31 Required Organizational Practices is a wonderful achievement. It is a credit to our staff, physicians, Board and volunteers. It is a major statement to our patients and families that this organization has tremendous compliance with National Standards in all areas of our hospital. I am very proud of every one’s efforts and would like to congratulate them for a job well done.”
