Agenda Item 1.3.2
Board Report
From CMH President & CEO
May & June 2014
This report provides a brief update on some key activities within CMH as an FYI to
the board. While it is organized against our strategic themes, it may include
strategic, corporate and other projects as necessary.
Unparalleled Focus on Quality
CMH’s Pathology team sustains their cancer reporting rates
 Last year, we celebrated our pathologists’ success in completing and
reporting the diagnosis for colorectal cancer within 10 days, 100% of the
time.
 In March 2013, our hospital was one of six in Ontario to achieve this
awesome rate. This is truly exceptional because the benchmark set out
by Cancer Care Ontario is to complete the diagnosis for colorectal cancer
and report it within 10 days, 80% of the time.
 We were curious and followed up with the Pathology team a year later to
see if they were still sustaining this amazing effort.
 I’m pleased to report that not only are they diagnosing colorectal cancers,
they are diagnosing ALL cancers – like kidney, breast and others – within
Cancer Care Ontario’s benchmarks, 100% of the time.
Staff informed of strategic planning efforts
 In June, staff, physicians and volunteers were informed of the strategic
planning that is underway. Leveraging the expertise of the Hay Group,
a draft plan will be offered to the Board of Directors by June 25.
 Building on 2011-14 plan, the new plan will maintain the same values,
mission and vision. Also, the current strategic directions of unparalleled
focus on quality, strength through people and driving value and
affordability will continue to guide our initiatives. They were also told
there was a possibility for another strategic direction, which they will be
apprised of once approved by the Board of Directors.
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Agenda Item 1.3.2
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Staff was given a high level description of a strategic planning meeting
that was held on May 28 by regional partners and a diverse group of
internal CMH stakeholders.
The discussion was energetic and positive. It was framed in the notion
that we are in the enviable position of having a new building on the
horizon, with a real opportunity to determine our future given the health
care system is changing.
Strength through Our People
Sue Robertson, interim VP, Clinical Programs & Chief Nursing Executive
 On Monday, June 2, Sue Robertson joined our senior leadership
team as the interim VP, Clinical Programs & Chief Nursing Executive.
She assumed Susan Gregoroff’s entire portfolio while she is away on
medical leave, except for Mental Health, which will be supported by
Mike Prociw.
 Throughout her career, Sue enjoyed a wide range of experiences in
education, research and management. She is a graduate of both the
Toronto General Hospital School of Nursing and McMaster University
where she earned her bachelor of arts. In addition she holds a master
manager leadership certificate from the Laurier School of Business.
 Her areas of interest are patient safety and quality, enhancing
professional practice and quality of work life.
 Prior to joining Grand River Hospital (GRH) in 1996 she was a
division nurse manager at the Henderson site of what then was
known as the Hamilton Civic Hospital.
 At GRH, she worked through a number of progressive roles from
clinical specialist and program administrator for chronic care and
rehab to Director of Cancer Centre Development and Director of
Regional Cancer Planning. In 2006, she held the position of acting
VP, Clinical Programs and Chief Nursing Executive, before being
appointed to the role in 2008.
 Sue retired from Grand River Hospital in 2013, after serving more
than 40 years in health care, half of which in an executive capacity.
Ambassador Program launched
 On Monday, May 12 the CMHVA launched its Ambassador program with
14 eager volunteers, who signed up to make a real difference to our
patients and visitors.
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Agenda Item 1.3.2
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The goal of the program is to improve the experience of patients and
visitors when they arrive to our hospital.
Stationed by the hospital’s Main Entrance, they will become the face of
the organization, greeting people as they come in, providing directions
and encouraging the use of hand sanitizers.
These volunteers will also be an important source of information once
the CRP is underway.
At the time of the launch, Ambassadors are covering most of the times
that traditionally make visiting hours, morning through evening. The goal
is to expand to two volunteers per shift, ensuring someone is always
present to greet our visitors.
Rehab Awards of Excellence presented to Charlie Bauman, Sue Fink,
Loretta McCormick and Nisha Walibhai
 On May 1, the Waterloo Wellington LHIN celebrated individual and team
achievements at the Rehab Awards of Excellence Ceremony.
 This ceremony was held at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Guelph.
 Physiotherapist Sue Fink and Nurse Practitioner Loretta McCormick,
from the COPD program received awards in recognition of their
contributions to the Waterloo Wellington Rehabilitative Care System.
 Charlie Bauman and Nish Walibhai were recognized for ‘Collaboration’
as part of the Stroke Implementation Task Force.
Dr. John Yang – nominated for a SAGE award
 On April 25, the SAGE – Service Awards for Geriatric Excellence –
were presented to celebrate those who are passionate and committed
to improving the quality of life of seniors.
 Dr. John Yang was nominated for the Executive/Senior Leadership
category. This category is to applaud those who lead innovative
programs that improves care for the elderly; utilizes best practices and
demonstrates leadership and an inspiring vision of how care for the
elderly can be improved.
Congratulations – Marilyn Parkinson Crump
 The City of Cambridge honoured past VA president, Marilyn ParkinsonCrump on Wednesday, June 11 by inducting her into the City of
Cambridge Hall of Fame under the Education and Community
Volunteer category.
 Both a dedicated teacher and tireless volunteer, Marilyn is well
entrenched in numourous community groups, touching on all aspects
of life, from the arts to sports to education to the spiritual. In health
care, she was past president of the VA between 2005 – 2008 and
presently works in the gift shop.
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Agenda Item 1.3.2
WOW Cambridge & ICCAIR Awards for Krista Heap and Rose Riggan
 Our featured ICCAIR Award recipients for March are Krista Heap and
Rose Riggan. Both were cited from a grateful new parent about the
professional and caring service they provided his wife while she was in
delivery at our hospital.
 This person was so impressed with Krista and Rose, he nominated
them for the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce’s WOW Cambridge
Award, which they also won!
 The WOW Cambridge award recognizes individuals, who have gone
above and beyond, providing extraordinary service in everyday
situations.
 This is the second time a CMH staff was honoured with a WOW.
Cheryl Vandervalk was recognized in 2012.
Driving Value and Affordability
Microbiology changes service providers
 After undergoing an RFP process, CMH switched its microbiology
provider from Grand River Hospital (GRH) to Lifelabs on June 14.
 This change will bring about the same services at a lower cost. Lifelabs
is a large medical laboratory service provider that can offer specialized
clinical laboratory testing, hospital services and clinical case studies
among other things
 The transition took place on Friday, June 13. It is expected to have its
labs fully integrated with CMH’s electronic records by September 2014.
Brand New Tim Hortons opens June 2
 On June 2, the Tim Hortons opened in a new location, where the
hospital’s Riverview Café used to reside in B Wing, level 1.
 Modern and expanded, the new restaurant will now be able to offer all
menu selections, which is something they were unable to do because of
space restrictions in their old location.
 There were a few bumps the week before, when the restaurant did a
‘soft launch’ to help orient and train staff in their new location. Two days
into their opening, a plumbing problem occurred resulting in its closure
for two days.
 So far so good and the service is smoother and faster than in its
previous, cramped space.
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Agenda Item 1.3.2
A sign of things to come: Minister Matthews visits CMH
 On July 28, 2011, the Honourable Deb Matthews announced that our
hospital redevelopment project was ‘green lighted.’
 She returned to us exactly 1000 days later on April 23 to unveil a
Government of Ontario sign describing the redevelopment project. The
sign is situated at the front of the hospital near the entrance that will
eventually become our main entrance once the build begins.
 Her visit also coincided with the closing of the “Request for Proposals”
(RFP) process. Five companies had until April 23 to submit their
proposals to build CMH’s new hospital.
 To quote Minister Matthews in her remarks, “Today marks a very
important milestone that should make it very clear that this project is
moving forward.”
Innovation at work – ECG goes paperless May 6
 On Tuesday May 6, the ECG department went paperless.
 The department launched a new Electronic ECG format using iECG, a
Phillips software solution that captures ECGs electronically and
transfers them to Meditech PCI for viewing.
 Meditech is CMH’s electronic patient record, where physicians and
clinicians share clinical information about a patient’s care.
 The benefit is that all ECGs performed with this system will be
available immediately as a “preliminary scan” pending final reporting by
an Internist/Cardiologist.
 Pending ECGs will have a software generated interpretation that will be
reviewed and validated by the reading physician.
 The benefit of going paperless, not only saves on paper, but also
storage costs, which is at a premium in the hospital.
 Given the reports are now viewable on Meditech, physicians who are
part of the ClinicalConnect system can also view their patient’s records
outside of CMH and in their office or another healthcare facility.
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