Members of East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP) were invited to speak at the NQuIRE International Advisory Council meeting hosted by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario on June 29.
On June 29, 2021, members of East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP) were invited to speak at the NQuIRE International Advisory Council (IAC) meeting hosted by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO). As part of our Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO OHT) program, ETHP was able to carry out an Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship in winter and spring 2021.
During the IAC meeting, the two co-Fellows Kiel Ferguson (Michael Garron Hospital) and Frances Montemurro (South Riverdale Community Health Centre), along with mentor Jennifer Reguindin (Michael Garron Hospital) spoke about advancing health system transformation through the implementation of RNAO’s Person- and Family-Centred Care (2015) Best Practice Guideline.
“In the Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship with East Toronto Health Partners, Frances and I have been working together collaboratively to really try and understand the experiences and perspectives of persons navigating across sectors within an integrated healthcare system,” Kiel noted. “We also wanted to know how our integrated care teams are improving the health and wellness of vulnerable seniors, and what care providers’ experiences are while working as part of the Primary and Community Care Response Teams in East Toronto.
“In conducting our interviews and focus groups, it was truly awesome to see all of these services come together to meet the goals of these clients living in East Toronto,” Kiel continued. “This has provided them with resources available at home so they can live there as independently as possible and for as long as possible.”
In the discussion following ETHP’s presentation, Doris Grinspun, CEO at RNAO, highlighted the value of approaches such as the ETHP BPSO OHT Fellowship, which are staff-driven rather than top-down. “That produces a very different outcome — one of an engaged and energized staff that will, in turn, inspire others,” Doris said.
As a BPSO OHT, ETHP will have the opportunity to support Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowships each year. “This Fellowship was a great opportunity to see all of the different resources that are available to individuals living in East Toronto,” Kiel said. “It also highlighted how the community has come together to provide services to really, truly serve vulnerable people living in our community.”