Insights from the East Coast Safety Symposium
HIROC’s East Coast Safety Symposium was a resounding success, offering a full day of connection, learning, and collaboration in St. John’s, for our Subscribers in Atlantic Canada.
Following the symposium, we caught up with Lori Borovoy, HIROC’s Senior Healthcare Risk Management Specialist. Lori, who spends countless hours supporting Subscribers, shared her thoughts on the event and its significance for our healthcare community.
Here’s what she had to say…
Marc Aiello: Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts and insights from the East Coast Safety Symposium, Lori. To kick things off, what were some of the most impactful sessions for you?
Lori Borovoy: This year’s symposium was truly an enlightening experience, and I left feeling very inspired and motivated. It was such a gift and privilege to kick off the event by hearing from our patient speaker, Keisha Chambers.
At HIROC, we are always sure to include the patient voice. Keisha’s story of resilience through a premature birth experience and learning about the support she received from our healthcare system was incredibly moving. It underscored the importance of patient engagement and the power of speaking up and listening to your “mum gut.”
Marc Aiello: That’s a powerful takeaway. Were there any other sessions that stood out to you?
Lori Borovoy: I was particularly interested in the sessions on leadership and large system change. Learning from the experiences of IWK Health, Nova Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness, and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of healthcare integration.
Marc Aiello: What are your thoughts about the session on emerging risks and legal trends?
Lori Borovoy: This was a crucial session for our Subscribers, both on the East Coast and across Canada. It’s essential for healthcare providers to stay informed about the evolving landscape and potential risks. Learnings from Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, IWK Health, Stewart McKelvie and HIROC provided great insights.
Marc Aiello: The symposium also highlighted HIROC’s Safety Grants program. Could you tell us more about that?
Lori Borovoy: The Safety Grants showcased a variety of innovative projects aimed at improving patient safety.
One project from NL Health Services focused on improving patient weight documentation in the emergency department. A key takeaway emerged from the audience commending the presenter’s emphasis on prioritizing engagement, particularly from frontline workers, which significantly influenced the selection of weight equipment tailored to accommodate mobility limitations.
The second project presented by IWK Health was on the development of the Behavioral Emergency Response Team. Their goal was to become more proactive and prevent violent and aggressive situations.
And the final presentation, by Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, focused on improving safety in administration of Oxytocin for induction of labour, and it provided insights into their multidisciplinary approach. The presenters shared outcome measures, including improvement of reduction of eligible individuals induced with oxytocin who had a cesarean birth due to abnormal Fetal Health Surveillance.
Marc Aiello: How was the session on AI?
Lori Borovoy: The AI session provided a balanced perspective on the potential risks and benefits of this new technology in healthcare. A special thank you to our presenters from Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, Memorial University, IWK Health, and SiftMed.
Marc Aiello: What about the last session on perinatal/neonatal care and applied safety?
Lori Borovoy: The perinatal/neonatal care sessions were practical and informative.
The first session presented in partnership with Prince Edward Island, Prince County Hospital and Salus Global was on umbilical cord prolapse with a takeaway on the importance of team simulations. They shared their experience from a real situation happening just three weeks after the practice and the positive outcome.
And the final session presented by Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services was on midwifery integration and reaching communities where access to maternity care may be limited. The passion for the community was palpable.
Marc Aiello: It sounds like the symposium was a big success. What are your final thoughts?
Lori Borovoy: We all left inspired in our commitment to actioning safety and left with many new friends and experiences to share. Thank you to Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services for hosting this Symposium and to all who attended.
And HIROC can’t wait to have the event again next year!
By Marc Aiello, Communications and Marketing Specialist, HIROC