b'QUALITY & INNOVATION AWARDS 2019Quality Improvement Team of the YearFalls prevention teamwork at Meadow Park leads to resultsT he most effective approach to long-term care is one championed by teamwork, and for the team at Meadow Park Chatham Long Term Care Home, its a dedication to ongoing collaboration that has generated marked care-driven improvements within the home. A particular touchstone of success for Meadow Park Chatham, one of the 14 long-term care homes operated by Jarlette Health Services, is its multidisciplinary approach to falls management. The home successfully unites personal support workers (PSWs), dieticians, pharmacists, andother health care professionals with the commongoal of tracking, assessing, and ultimately preventingresident falls. Working in tandem with their synergistic approach to care, the Home introduced the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Preventing Falls and Reducing Injury from Falls program in 2018 to enhance team-led fall prevention strategies. Launching hourly for all high-risk residents, where staff visit the resident once an hour to address the4 Ps: pain, positioning, personal belongings (within reach), and personal needs, Meadow Park saw an immediate improvement in falls prevention. This has been sustained through additional education, consistent communication, and the development of a Rounding Log, which was created based on valuable feedback gleaned fromfrontline staff. Stock photoOur Team meets monthly to conduct high-risk rounds,have been able to retain staff in a long-term capacity, some where we discuss every fall, pressure injury, pain concern,for over 40 years.behavioural concern, worsened incontinence, dietary concerns, and palliative residents. This allows us to discussBuilding an effective team requires staff members that feel these issues and collaboratively propose solutions, saysempowered, confident, and heard. To that end, Meadow Jessica Francis, Co-Director of Care with Meadow ParkPark Chatham provides opportunities for employees to Chatham. We have found this has been very beneficial ingain additional training at external events and then flex brainstorming together and solving complex issues.their leadership skills by passing on their education to peers back at the home. Additionally, staff members are Meadow Park Chathams collaborative approach has ledencouraged to share their opinions and vote on proposed to noticeable improvements in its falls-related indicators.practice change, and to join committees to make their Since implementing its falls guideline in 2018, rates havecollective voice known regarding key issues.dropped by 7% to 9.38%, putting the home in line with provincial benchmarks for the first time in several years.Leadership engagement is also key to the teams Most importantly, the team has reduced the number ofcohesiveness. Francis says that Meadow Park Chatham injuries from falls by a significant amount, all of whichmanagement makes the effort to brainstorm with team relates back to a strong, team-oriented culture, and amembers from all departments and support them in testing common goal.new ideas. Remaining transparent and allowing staff to see the results of the work they do gives them an incentive as Meadow Park strives to include staff from all disciplines inwell as a sense of purpose. decision-making and encourages their ideas and feedback. Whenever possible, we support our staff to take leadershipAll told, its a mix of education, inclusion, and constant roles and focus on their strengths, and the results havecollaboration that not only enhances the lives of Meadow been very positive, says Francis. Our team is happier andPark Chathams residents but gives its team an award-works most efficiently as a cooperative unit. In fact, wewinning reputation. LTCT16 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2020'