Making the Rounds Up-to-date news on Model of Care

What is a Showcase Unit? Showcase units are those units selected from various sites across the Island to be the first to implement different aspects of Model of Care. Model of Care includes components such as professionals working to their full scope of practice and process improvements in the system such as improved patient flow, development of a coordinated care team that includes many health care roles such as LPNs and RCWs, as well as determining which allied health groups are needed, and how many, to best meet patient needs in each particular health care setting. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the ‘Showcase’ units.

Kings County Memorial is a 30 bed acute care facility which is the show‐ case unit for a community hospital setting. Located in Montague, this hospital is Seen here from Prince County Hospital is (left—right) Lisa Dawson‐ Clinical Leader, Lynne Palmer‐ Clinical also home to an emergency care unit that remains open until 10pm daily. Many of Educator, Shawna Johnstone‐ RN, Cindy Dawson ‐LPN, the patients cared for are convalescing from or medical conditions and Mary Rioux‐LPN, Sherron Kickham‐Gamble‐LPN, & have longer stays in hospital than other acute units. Barb Arsenault ‐LPN.

Unit 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is an adult medical unit and is another showcase unit with Model of Care. This unit has a high number of patients admitted with lung conditions such as COPD and heart failure. A large unit of 50 staff cares for patients who are largely 60 years of age or older. The Nurse Manager has been working with staff since the unit was selected to be one of the showcase units in preparation for coming changes. Staff are enthusiastic about participating in and building stronger collabo‐ ration with other health care workers, and to be working in a hospital dedicated to improving care delivery. They are viewing Model of Care as an opportunity to look at process, roles and what supports are required for staff to work in a better working environment and to facilitate having patients return to their homes in the community as soon and as safely as possible.

Prince County Hospital Surgery has been selected as the restorative/surgical showcase unit. With the Restorative Care unit hav‐ ing 10 beds on one wing of the unit and 20 surgical beds located in the other wing; the two sides currently share multiple re‐ sources. The entire staff is looking forward to their LPNs working at full scope and are preparing to move into a collaborative approach. The new model will allow for maximizing each health care worker’s role and to provide the best patient care possible.

Wedgewood Manor is the facility chosen as the showcase unit for long term care. There are 76 beds in this facility and all resi‐ dents need 24 hour nursing care. The Director of Nursing and Manager have been working with nursing staff to prepare them to work within a collaborative practice model in which all staff will be working to their full scope of practice. All Department Managers have been working with staff to promote the "Person‐ Centered Care" philosophy. Person‐centered care is a philoso‐ phical approach to nursing home care that respects the voice of elders and those working closest with them. It involves a con‐ tinuing process of listening and trying new things in an effort to individualize care and de‐institutionalize the nursing home envi‐ ronment. The New Model of Care and the philosophy of "Person Center Care" fit nicely together to help achieve the goal of im‐ proving the quality of life, on every level, for the person needing care and to improve the level of work place satisfaction for those staff that care for them.

November 2009 IssueIssue 3 oneislandhealthsystem.ca Showcase Units Update from the Project Manager The Model of Care project will be implemented in five showcase units across the province. As part of the project, has been contracted by the Department of Health to deliver an education program that will assist current LPN employees in obtaining the necessary skills and certification to administer medication. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the implementation progress of the showcase units. After discussions with Holland College it was decided to delay the LPN program and provide the students with an opportunity to take the refresher course if they choose. This measure was taken top hel students prepare for the Pharmacology component of the Holland College training in January 2010. As a result, the time lines of the implementation dates for the show‐ case units may need to be adapted to align with time lines associated with the LPN education. I am currently working withe th Model of Care Steering Committee and the showcase unit managers to determine what those new time lines will look like. Please note that while the showcase unit start dates were required to be adjusted, the implementation of Model of Care continues to progress strongly. Other Model of Care work, including creation of the new job descriptions and RN education continues. LPN medication administration training is just one aspect of education that is being planned for all staff within the showcase units by the Model of Care Steering Committee, build teams, various working groups and the showcase unit managers. I would like to thank all staff working in our health care system, in particular those who are part of the showcase units, for their continued patience, professionalism and understanding during this time. We are fortunate to have such dedicated, talented individuals working in health care settings across . I will continue to keep you updated as we progress with planning and I expect to have confirmed soon which showcase units will be ready to be implemented and the expected start dates. Faye Kingdon, Project Manager Scope of Practice- The term “scope of practice” is sometimes used in different ways by different groups. In the document “Exemplary Care: Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses Working Together” scope of practice is defined as: activities that nurses are educated and authorized to perform; different nursing roles and responsibilities within the workplace and; knowledge and skills nurses have as individuals. These activities are established in the workplace and are complemented by standards set by each nursing association. You can read the complete document “Exemplary Care: Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses Working Together” and learn more about scope of practice, by visiting the website www.peihsc.ca

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Your input is important! Frequently Asked Questions If you have questions, comments Upcoming newsletters will feature or suggestions about Model of a Frequently Asked Questions Care or this newsletter, please Project Management Office section. If you have a question you discuss them with a leader at your P.O. Box 2000 would like answered, please send PE C1A 7N8 site, or call Faye Kingdon, Project us your question to the contact Manager, at 368‐4581, or send an Phone: (902) 368‐5810 information provided. We would Fax: (902) 368‐5835 email to E‐mail: [email protected] appreciate knowing what is on your www.oneislandhealthsystem.ca [email protected] mind with Model of Care!

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