Health-care leaders share formula for sustained excellence in patient care at nursing symposium

TORONTO, March 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Ontario nurses are leading improvements to patient care through the use of evidence-based practice, and they will share their success stories today at an event held by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO).

RNAO's Knowledge Exchange Symposium brings together health-care leaders from Ontario and around the world whose organizations have earned Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) status by systematically implementing RNAO's internationally acclaimed best practice guidelines. The BPSO program spans all health sectors, including public health, primary care, hospital care, home care and long-term care.

At today's event, North Bay Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC) will be presented with its BPSO designation, becoming Ontario's first NPLC to join the BPSO ranks.

"We are proud to be the first of 25 NPLCs in Ontario to receive designation as a BPSO," says Leeann Whitney, the clinic's executive director. "This designation means we incorporate evidence-based practices to ensure high-quality care for our patients."

Also attending the symposium are representatives from various leading health and academic organizations from across Ontario, as well as the University of the West Indies School of Nursing (UWISON) in Jamaica, one of RNAO's international BPSOs, and St. Frances Xavier University School of Nursing  in Nova Scotia.

"This symposium is one of my favourite events, because it gives us a chance to hear our BPSOs speak so proudly about the difference they're making for their patients and clients, using RNAO's evidence-based guidelines and resources" says Irmajean Bajnok, director of RNAO's International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines (IABPG) Centre.

The symposium agenda features nurse-led discussions about how technology, fellowships, simulation, and other tools and strategies can help with the implementation and sustained use of guidelines. It will also include a presentation about Nursing Quality Indicators for Reporting and Evaluation® (NQuIRE®), RNAO's data system for evaluating the impact of using the guidelines for patients.

RNAO's Chief Executive Officer Doris Grinspun, who launched the best practice guidelines program in 1999, says she is amazed by how far it has come, with more than 50 guidelines being implemented in close to 500 sites in health and academic organizations provincially, nationally and internationally.

"The work of these awesome nurses is truly revolutionizing care in Ontario and beyond," Grinspun says. "It will be an honour to see them share their knowledge and skills to help RNAO spread evidence-based practice for better health outcomes around the globe."

WHO

• Nurses representing health-care organizations from across Ontario
• RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun, and IABPG Centre Director Irmajean Bajnok
• Leeann Whitney and Terri MacDougall from North Bay Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

WHAT

• BPSO Knowledge Exchange Symposium

WHEN

• Thursday, March 10, 2016, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE

• Westin Prince Hotel, 900 York Mills Rd, Toronto, ON, M3B 3H2

RNAO is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve. For more information about RNAO, visit our website at RNAO.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines Program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and was launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across a wide range of health-care settings. The 51 guidelines developed to date are a substantial contribution towards building excellence in Ontario's health system. They are available to all health professionals in Canada and abroad. To learn more about RNAO's Nursing Best Practice Guidelines Program or to view these resources, please visit www.RNAO.ca/bpg

SOURCE Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

or to arrange an interview with a nurse, please contact: Daniel Punch, Communications Officer/Writer, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, 416-408-5606, [email protected]