Best Care for All
Our vision for the decade ahead
C H E D O K E • C H I L D R E N ’ S • G E N E R A L • J U R AV I N S K I • M c M A S T E R • S T. P E T E R ’ S • W E S T L I N C O L N
for me, for us, for our community, and for the future
Best Care for All – our vision
At Hamilton Health Sciences, providing the very best care is our goal for each and every person
we serve. This goal has inspired a proud tradition of service at Hamilton Health Sciences which
began in 1848 when our first hospital, Hamilton General Hospital, opened its doors. Over the
years, the doctors, staff, volunteers and researchers across our organization have brought hope
and healing to this community and to patients around the world.
Although our accomplishments are many, there is much more we can do. We believe it’s our
responsibility to build upon the solid foundation already in place so that we will always provide
the Best Care for All.
Our new strategic plan will help us do that.
Over the next 10 years, we will:
• Ensure that everyone has an excellent experience in our hospitals,
cancer centre and urgent care centre
• Deliver care that is based on the latest, best evidence
• Collaborate with other health and community organizations
• Make the most of every resource – money, technology and people
• Be a great place to work
This is our commitment to you and to future generations.
Hamilton Health Sciences
provides a broader range
of services than any other
hospital in Ontario.
“Best Care” means
something different to
every patient we care for…
For me, Best Care means…
being able to
hold my healthy
baby girl
in my arms.
FAST FACT:
About 3,000 babies are delivered
at McMaster University Medical
Centre each year. It is the regional
centre for high risk deliveries, and
about 65 per cent of those births
fall under the high risk category.
Ashley has lived with diabetes for 24 years, and uses an insulin pump.
When she decided to have a baby, she knew there would be some risk,
and sought the assistance of specialists at McMaster University Medical
Centre. Today, Ashley and baby Cooper are both happy and healthy.
For us, Best Care means…
being able to
catch our breath.
FAST FACT:
McMaster Children’s Hospital is the
fourth largest inpatient pediatric
service in Canada. On average each
year, there are 210,000 patient
visits to the hospital including
emergency services and clinics.
Sisters Madison and Mikayla aren’t letting cystic fibrosis get in the way of
their love for the trampoline. A team of specialists at McMaster Children’s
Hospital are making it possible for the sisters to remain active.
For me, Best Care means…
being able to walk again.
FAST FACT:
More than 1,000 people are
admitted to the Integrated
Stroke Program every year.
Sara was watching TV when her left side started to feel numb. At only 25,
she was having a stroke. In less than 11 minutes from the time she arrived
at the Hamilton General Hospital, Sara received clot-busting medication
to treat her stroke.
For me, Best Care means…
having Joan at home
playing the piano.
FAST FACT:
More than 6,900 people visit
the Geriatric Clinic at St. Peter’s
Hospital each year.
Joan and Richard have been married for more than 55 years. When Joan
was diagnosed with dementia in 2009, they worried how this would
affect their life together. Today, with support and ongoing care from
experts at St. Peter’s Hospital, Joan is able to maintain a high quality of
life at home with Richard where she plays her beloved piano every day.
For me, Best Care means…
being able to give back to
the place that gave me a
new lease on life.
FAST FACT:
The Juravinski Hospital is second in the province
when it comes to the number of joint replacement
operations our hospital performs each year.
Successful hip surgery at the Juravinski Hospital in January 2013 has
enabled Gord to stay on his feet doing what he enjoys. Gord’s favourite
day of the week is Monday when he volunteers at the Juravinski Hospital.
He offers a warm greeting and helps patients and families arriving at the
hospital as part of the Volunteer Patient Drop-off Assistance Program.
For me, Best Care means…
being able to help others
believe that cancer
can be beaten.
FAST FACT:
Experts and leading-edge technology are the reason
why the Juravinski Cancer Centre is a provincial
leader in detecting and diagnosing lung cancer.
Ljiljana was diagnosed with stage III lung cancer in November 2012.
She immediately underwent concurrent chemotherapy and radiation
at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and in August 2013 underwent surgery,
the final step in her treatment.
For me, Best Care means…
an uninterrupted date
night with my husband.
FAST FACT:
Staff and physicians at the Main Street West
Urgent Care Centre care for a patient having
an allergic reaction almost every day.
Noelle and her husband were on their way home from a local
restaurant when Noelle’s throat began to swell. She was having
an allergic reaction to something she ate. They drove straight to
the Main Street West Urgent Care Centre and within a couple of
hours, were back on their way home.
For me, Best Care means…
being able to play hockey
at a competitive level.
FAST FACT:
Each year, staff in the
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Service at Chedoke Hospital
create more than 2,000 new
limbs and devices to enable
individuals to do what they
love most.
Amniotic banding is a condition that occurs in the womb during fetal
development and restricts the growth of limbs. Josh was born without
a left wrist and hand, but this hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his love
of hockey. The athletic 11-year-old now competes in the Ontario Minor
Hockey Association.
For me, Best Care means…
being cared for by
a doctor who really knows
me and my family.
FAST FACT:
On average each year, West Lincoln Memorial
Hospital cares for more than 1,000 babies and
moms. The Maternal Child program at WLMH is
ranked as a top performer in provincial patient
satisfaction surveys with 52 per cent of referrals
coming from outside West Niagara.
Angela and her physician go way back. In fact, Dr. Seamus
Donaghy was there for Angela’s birth. Almost 30 years later,
Dr. Donaghy also delivered each of Angela’s three children –
Jack, Timothy and Jonathan.
For me, Best Care means…
being able to do Zumba,
work out in my home gym,
and go swimming again.
FAST FACT:
Hamilton Health Sciences is one
of the world’s leading research
hospitals. Recently, we were ranked
#1 in Canada and #7 in the world
by two organizations that monitor
international achievements in research.
On July 5, 2012, Jean fell down the stairs in her home and broke her hip.
She was in surgery that same night and back home five days later. A
pilot research study at Hamilton Health Sciences has shown promising
evidence that patients who receive surgery sooner due to a hip fracture
have better outcomes.
RESEARCH
That is what best care means
to our patients.
Now, here are the goals we are
pursuing over the next 10 years
as we strive to achieve our vision
of Best Care for All…
Our goal is to provide
an excellent patient experience for all.
Everyone expects to receive excellent care and service through
their healthcare journey. At Hamilton Health Sciences, we are
building a culture that is focused on providing high quality,
personalized care that is rich with compassion and concern. We
will collaborate with our patients and care for them in facilities
that are clean, accessible and welcoming. Our patients deserve the
best and we are passionate about giving them our best.
When Madison was diagnosed
with leukemia she was
surrounded by an expert team
of caregivers. Our team knew
that it was not just Madison’s
clinical care that was important.
Her whole life, her family’s whole
life, was affected by what was
going on at the hospital. Helping
Madison get back to her life
was a big priority for her and
her family. Nancy, a Child Life
Specialist, worked closely with
Madison and her family to help
them understand what to expect,
and together, create a plan for
moving forward as a family.
The kindness and support they
received made all the difference.
Today, Madison is back to what’s
important – smiling and playing.
Excellent
Patient
Experience
We will achieve this by:
• Always providing excellent service
• Ensuring patients and families are
at the centre of care
• Applying best practices to enhance
the patient experience
Our goal is to be
world leaders in moving evidence into practice
to deliver the best patient care.
Building on our core value of innovation, we are committed
to moving evidence into practice in an effective and
timely manner. Our focus is to bring research and quality
improvement processes together to deliver exceptional care
for our patients and to enhance the quality of their lives.
We will achieve this by:
• Using tools to implement and
sustain evidence-informed
practices
• Establishing an integrated
knowledge translation and
quality improvement framework
in partnership with McMaster
University and evidence-based
leaders
• Creating a culture of evidenceinformed practice
M
Medical
science is changing
health care. Patients like David
he
are benefiting from the latest
ar
advances. His physician for over
ad
20 years has been Dr. Stuart
Connolly, a world renowned
C
cardiology researcher who, along
ca
with his team, uses the most
w
recent research findings to treat
re
David’s arterial disease. The
D
best evidence and the best care
b
are ensuring that David has the
ar
healthiest outcome possible.
he
Evidenceinformed
Quality Care
Our goal is to be leaders in driving
change to achieve a
seamless healthcare system.
It is essential that our patients feel supported at every
step on their healthcare journey. Working with our
community partners, we will enhance the way patients
transition between healthcare settings and providers.
Together we will continue to build a system that provides
the best care where and when it is needed.
When Cathy was ready for the
next stage in her recovery from
breast cancer, the LiveWell
Program, a partnership between
Hamilton Health Sciences, the
YMCA and McMaster University
made all the difference. Now
at home and gradually getting
her strength back, Cathy’s
physiotherapy takes place at the
YMCA. For her it was a safe and
smooth transition from hospitalbased care to community-based
care.
Seamless
Healthcare
System
We will achieve this by:
• Using technology to improve
information access for patients and
healthcare providers
• Developing strong networks and
partnerships across our community
and the healthcare system
Our goal is to be a leader in
attracting and stewarding resources
to advance our mission.
Health care is important to us all. Hamilton Health Sciences
will strive to have the resources, today in the future, in order
to continue to deliver high quality care that is innovative and
effective, generate world renowned research that enhances
patient outcomes, and create an environment that fosters
learning for the care providers of tomorrow.
We will achieve this by:
• Attracting and managing
financial resources
• Promoting an environment that
supports health research
• Achieving operational efficiencies
• Promoting
Pro
an environment that
supports health discipline learning
sup
Our community is trusting us to
manage healthcare resources so
man
people have access to the care
peop
they need, when they need it. At
Hamilton Health Sciences, staff
Ham
members and physicians are helping
mem
to se
set priorities that enable us to
make the most of every dollar we
spend. Together, we are building
spen
a healthcare
hea
organization that is
innovative, effective and sustainable
innov
for th
the future.
Attract and
Steward
Resources
Our goal is to be
the organization of choice
for talented people.
Health care is a calling – a positive and rewarding career
choice. At Hamilton Health Sciences we want to continue
to attract passionate, caring, talented people and keep
them delivering care right here in Hamilton. We will work
hard to ensure that all of our employees, physicians and
volunteers, now and in the future, are proud to be a part of
Hamilton Health Sciences. We will take care
of the people who care for you.
Our staff, physicians and
volunteers are passionate about
the care and service they provide.
They are our strength. We will
continue to create an environment
that enables each individual and
every team to realize their full
potential and to make their
best contributions.
Talented
People
We will achieve this by:
• Building an engaged workforce
• Developing and supporting our people
• Developing high-performing leaders
• Improving safety and well being at work
• Building recognition systems
Just a few more
facts about
Hamilton Health
Sciences…
from across our family of
hospitals, cancer centre and
urgent care centre
• Family of healthcare facilities
serving more than 2.3 million
residents of Hamilton, south
central Ontario and beyond
• Second largest teaching
hospital in Ontario with more
than 1,200 beds
• Academic teaching
hospital affiliated with
McMaster University and
Mohawk College
Did you know?
• The Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit at McMaster Children’s
Hospital is the largest in
Ontario.
• The Neuromuscular and
Neurometabolic Clinic at
McMaster University Medical
Centre sees more patients
than any other similar clinic
in Canada, with referrals from
across the country.
• The Juravinski Cancer
Centre (JCC) provides more
chemotherapy treatments than
any other cancer centre in the
province. The JCC was also the
first in Ontario to introduce
CyberKnife technology – the
world’s only robotic system that
provides radiation therapy with
sub-millimetre accuracy.
11,400
employees
1,800
physicians
On average each year:
43,500
23,800
patient
admissions
surgical
cases
C H E D O K E
•
3,800
C H I L D R E N ’ S
births
•
170,000
90
visits to
four emergency
departments
heliport
landings
G E N E R A L
•
J U R A V I N S
• Hamilton General Hospital
does more cardiac surgeries,
cardiac catheterizations and
angioplasties than any other
hospital in Ontario. The General
is also home to the region’s first
and largest heart investigation
unit, and one of only two burn
centres in Ontario.
1,300
• West Lincoln Memorial Hospital
(WLMH) is unique in its focus
on integrating primary care.
Local and family physicians
comprise the medical staff
and work in the emergency
department, operating rooms,
and throughout all areas of the
hospital.
volunteers
student placements, co-ops
and internships annually
27,000
operating
room cases
K I
•
708,000
visits to
ambulatory
and outpatient
clinics
M c M A S T E R
•
500
pacemaker
procedures
S T .
• In 2011, Accreditation Canada,
the organization that evaluates
the standards followed at
hospitals across the country,
recognized 10 Leading Practices
at Hamilton Health Sciences –
the highest ever by an Ontario
hospital.
• Hamilton Health Sciences
has been designated by the
Registered Nurses Association
of Ontario (RNAO) as a Best
Practice Guideline Spotlight
Organization.
• Hamilton Health Sciences
has led the establishment of
ClinicalConnect™ - a regional
electronic health record. By
the end of 2015, 64 hospitals,
four Community Care Access
Centres and 18,000 healthcare
providers will be part of the
ClinicalConnect network.
That accounts for four million
patients or approximately 30%
of the population of Ontario.
• St. Peter’s Hospital staff
helped to develop the Gentle
Persuasive Approach (GPA)
to caring for patients with
dementia. The GPA curriculum
is now used in long-term care
and complex continuing care
facilities, and hospitals across
Canada.
2,200
• The Prosthetics and Orthotics
Service at Chedoke Hospital is
the second largest in Canada.
10,000
bravery beads
given to children
to mark treatment
milestones
P E T E R ’ S
•
29,500
visits to the
Main Street West
Urgent Care Centre
W E S T
L I N C O L N
OUR VISION
BEST CARE FOR ALL
OUR MISSION
To provide excellent health care for the people and communities we serve
and to advance health care through education and research.
OUR GOALS
E
Excellent
ll t
Patient
Experience
p
Evidenceinformed
Quality
y Care
Seamless
Healthcare
System
y
Attract and
Steward
Resources
Talented
People
OUR VALUES
Respect I Caring I Innovation I Accountability
C H E D O K E • C H I L D R E N ’ S • G E N E R A L • J U R AV I N S K I • M c M A S T E R • S T. P E T E R ’ S • W E S T L I N C O L N
Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is a registered
charitable organization which includes Hamilton General
Hospital Foundation, Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre
Foundation, McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation,
St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation. Through the generosity
of our donors, we fund capital redevelopment projects,
purchase medical equipment and technology, and invest in
research. Our mission is to support patient care, research
and education across Hamilton Health Sciences family of
hospitals; our goal is Health Care, Transformed.
For more information or to make a gift today,
please contact Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation
at 905-522-3863 or visit www.hamiltonhealth.ca
To make a gift to West Lincoln Memorial Hospital,
please contact West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation
at 905-945-9564 or visit www.wlmhfoundation.ca
For more information, contact Public Relations and
Communications at 905-521-2100 ext. 75387
or visit www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/strategy
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