f 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 serves almost 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 a medication error rate of 0.009 per cent.
Humber’s commitment to safety and quality care is further exemplified by its ranking among the top five Ontario hospitals in every category of the American College of Surgeons’ 2023 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Humber is the only hospital in the province to achieve this distinction.
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 potential delays in patient care can be addressed promptly and efficiently, rather than being reported at the end of the day. The Command Centre’s Early Warning Systems, such as the Clinical Deterioration tile, have significantly reduced critical events by proactively identifying and mitigating potential issues. 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 trends 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.”
By Anna Sharratt
