By Sharman Hnatiuk
An open house at Stollery Children’s Hospital gave staff and physicians the opportunity to swing by for a meet-and-greet with site leadership and find out what’s up and coming at the hospital.
The two-day event included 17 poster presentations representing a wide range of strategies, initiatives, and priorities from across the Stollery aimed at improving patient care. This includes the youth to adult care transition project, profiling the nurse practitioner role, patient flow/bed management process, OR redevelopment and optimization, parking for families, as well as improving access and flow in ambulatory care.
Dr. Christine Kyriakides, Stollery Medical Director, and Christine Westerlund, Stollery Senior Operating Officer, wanted to host this event not only to meet staff, but also to give presenters a chance to highlight the work they’re involved in.
“We wanted to create a venue to share all the good work that is happening within the Stollery,” explains Westerlund. “Having a face-to-face event allows presenters a chance to tell their story and for participants to ask questions, but also interact with and get to know some of their colleagues.”
Elina Williams, a project manager with the Congenital Heart Program, enjoyed the opportunity to share information on the Raising the Bar Initiative, which helps cardiac patients navigate the health system and improve their healthcare experience. She also appreciated the chance to see the other presentations.
“As a visitor I enjoyed seeing how big the Stollery is outside of the Congenital Heart Program,” says Williams. “The open house gave me a sense of professional identity. I am part of something bigger, something that is really making an impact for our patients and families.”
For Dr. Kyriakides, the event highlighted the scope of the Stollery, its staff and physicians, and the programs and initiatives at the site. “We find that staff may be very aware and involved in their particular area, but may not be aware of the extent of the services we offer or the research we are doing in other parts of the hospital. This forum helps give staff and physicians a better understanding of what they are a part of here at the Stollery.”
Sharman Hnatiuk works in communications at Alberta Health Services.