By Anna Sharratt

If you stand outside Humber River Health, you’ll see a steady stream of Ubers, taxis, other cars and ambulances delivering patients to the bustling hospital’s Apotex Emergency Department (ED), which welcomes more than 140,000 patients every year. Yet despite having one of the busiest EDs in Ontario, Humber has a reputation for being one of the safest hospitals in Canada.

The proof is in the numbers: 66 per cent fewer cases of hospital harm than the provincial average, a 10 per cent year-over-year reduction in sepsis cases, a 40 per cent year-over-year decrease in code blues – medical emergencies that can include heart attacks or respiratory distress – and the list goes on.

The secret to Humber’s safety successes? For starters, Humber’s culture of safety is the focal point for staff at every level of the organization, according to Amanpreet Ghuman, Director of Quality and Patient Safety. “Our leaders know what risks are present and how to address those proactively,” she says. “We use that data to take action.”

During orientation, trainees are put through a rigorous set of simulations that prepare them for a range of scenarios, from handling a code blue to de-escalating a violent patient situation. “This process ties in all of our safety concepts for everybody before they even start,” explains Derek Hutchinson, a Director of Professional Practice at Humber.

A PROACTIVE APPROACH

Overseeing operations is Humber’s Command Centre, an innovative centralized data tracking system that allows clinicians to track patients and their vitals in real time. The first of its kind in Canada, this “mission control” uses data algorithms to identify where in the hospital an issue is occurring – whether it has to do with staffing in a particular unit, an uptick in ED admissions or a patient who is deteriorating – so staff can take action before an issue worsens.

The Command Centre also ensures that a potential delay in patient care can be dealt with promptly and efficiently, rather than reported at the end of the day. Any concerns are flagged and immediately sent through to a variety of departments, which in turn work collaboratively with other divisions to address them.

Ghuman’s team tracks patient safety events, conducts reviews, and creates a report highlighting the trend and opportunities for improvement. “If anything is significant, we will roll out education in collaboration with the programs,” she says.

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE

In addition to its staff, Humber also has Patient and Family Advisors (PFAs), a dedicated volunteer group of former and current patients and family members. This team of more than 50 individuals focuses on quality improvement at the unit and corporate level, highlighting any gaps or issues for hospital staff and leaders. Most importantly, they have the ear of management.

“We seek their guidance around patients’ expectations when it comes to their care and how we can better meet those expectations,” explains Ghuman. “And we’re always looking for more former patients and family members to join.”

Hutchinson notes that Humber’s Corporate Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC) has an unusually high engagement rate and has made significant contributions to hospital policies and quality improvement initiatives.

While the general public wouldn’t be familiar with the behind-the-scenes dedication to safety, patients are well aware, with the Canadian Institute for Health Information finding that 87 per cent of patients would recommend Humber as a place to receive care.

The pride Humber’s staff take in ensuring every patient is expertly cared for can be heard in the passionate way Ghuman and Hutchinson speak on the topic.

“Things are working well, but we don’t plan to stop,” says Ghuman. “We’re constantly striving for improvement.”

Pull quote:

“We’re always looking for more former patients and family members to join our PFACs.” Amanpreet Ghuman, Director of Quality and Patient Safety

To read our full magazine, Care Closer to Home, click here.