Posted by This past year was a busy one at YourIWK.ca so before the calendar flips over to 2020 we want to revisit some of the stories that made it such a memorable one.
It’s no secret that the people who work at the IWK are special individuals. They continue to push the envelope, whether they work directly with patients and families, or are integral in supporting the work of those who do.
Initiatives and programs across the IWK ensured the health centre continued to be a safe place for our patients as they receive their needed care.
In early May surveyors from Accreditation Canada were onsite at the IWK to look at 27 priority processes across the health centre’s seven locations. When their work was complete they were pleased to announce that the IWK achieved the highest possible commendation for standards of excellence.
The IWK also advocated on their behalf on issues that might bring them harm, now or in the future. A warning from IWK’s Child Safety Link leads to swift response alerted the public about fake car seats being sold online triggering swift action from consumer advocates and government regulators. IWK experts also shared concerns about risks posed by edible cannabis.
By taking research directly to patients and families, the IWK continued to discover and implement innovative solutions that have a significant and real impact on the health and well-being of patients across Canada and around the world.
The IWK Emergency Department piloted the LanguageLine Insight App, connecting patients to interpreters with the push of a button.
As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a North America-based organization that provides clinical research trials for children diagnosed with cancer is currently active in 60 different studies.
Nova Scotia became the first province in Canada to provide standardized province-wide breast density measurement to all women who have a screening mammogram.
The IWK worked closely with patients and partners in improving how they and others access care, engaging them on the design of new areas, and most importantly ensuring their voices are heard prior to significant decisions being made.
The second and final stage of transforming the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from open-bay care sites to private, single family rooms was completed. The new environment combines high tech and parent’s touch enhancing patient privacy and confidentiality, while giving families a more comfortable space to stay with their babies.
The IWK delivered better outcomes for patients across Nova Scotia with “The Pregnant Woman in the ED” a workshop for health professionals in community hospitals without an active labour and birth service.
They also partnered with emergency departments across the province to improve emergency care for children and youth.