February 26, 2020
Kate Farkouh, centre, Critical Care Quality Improvement Coordinator, leads a quality improvement huddle for Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit staff at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre. Farkouh, who regularly leads the sessions, says it’s an opportunity to provide her colleagues with updates and information.
Story by Story by Logan Clow
FORT McMURRAY — Emergency Department (ED) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff have teamed up to identify critical care, quality improvement initiatives at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre (NLRHC).
Their collaborative efforts stem from the hospital’s Critical Care Quality Council (CCQC). Council members gather monthly to discuss quality improvement ideas and to review Reporting & Learning System for Patient Safety (RLS) data as well as program-safety data and protocols.
“A lot of the ideas and discussions brought forward during our meetings really re-instil why I wanted to be a nurse in the first place, and that’s to help people,” says council chair Kate Farkouh, Critical Care Quality Improvement Coordinator.
“We’re always trying to identify ways we can do better as healthcare providers,” says Farkouh, who’s also a registered nurse. “Our discussions are insightful and meaningful. It’s really about ensuring we’re continuing to provide the best healthcare possible for our patients.”
Council members include staff representatives, department coordinators and managers, clinical educators and the site’s quality consultant.
“Council members bring ideas and initiatives forward for discussion,” says Michelle Van Beek, Manager, ED and ICU. “We then take those ideas back to share with our colleagues for their feedback. At our next meeting, we typically revisit the idea and determine how to proceed.
“If the council is in agreement to implement something, Kate will spearhead the project and gather staff input and buy in to the idea.”
Van Beek formed the council in 2018 shortly after starting in her current role. At the time, she says staff expressed interest in having a formal structure and forum to address quality improvement initiatives.
The council has achieved several quality improvement initiatives to date, including modifying the site’s ED Fall Risk Assessment strategy, in response to data which revealed more assessments would improve care.
Van Beek adds that the council offers staff a unique opportunity to play an important role in managing change.
“The Critical Care Quality Council is one way our ED and ICU staff are able to share their opinions and ideas about quality improvement in their workplace,” she says.
“We’ve already accomplished a lot, but we know there’s more quality improvement work to address. Providing excellent patient care is at the heart of our decisions with the council, and we’ll make sure we continue to do that.”
