May edition - The power of nurses to transform health care, inspiring quality improvement stories and leading practices from across the globe

Recognizing the Transformative Power of Nurses 

The theme of this year’s Nursing Week, an event organized by the Canadian Nurses Association to shine a spotlight on the vital role nurses play in health care, is “The Power of Nurses to Transform Health.” At Accreditation Canada, we are proud to have many team members and leaders who began their careers as nurses, caring for patients across different communities. Their commitment to advancing patient safety and quality of care through our accreditation programs is truly inspiring. Join us in honouring these health care heroes who make a difference every day! https://accreditation.ca/news/this-nursing-week-we-celebrate-the-transformative-power-of-nurses/

Accreditation of Valdelsa Health Care Services in Italy 

Congratulations to Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est — and in particular to the Presidio Ospedaliero di Alta Val d’Elsa and the community services of the Val d’Elsa District — for successfully achieving accreditation, the first pilot project of its kind in the region.  This important accomplishment reflects a shared commitment to quality, embraced across services and teams. It demonstrates how a unified and integrated effort can lead to meaningful, sustainable improvement — for both teams and the communities they serve. https://accreditation.ca/news/accreditation-of-valdelsa-health-care-services-in-italy/  

Primary Health Care Corporation Qatar, a Global Leader in People-Centred Care  

In the dynamic and ever-evolving health care landscape, Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar actively champions innovation and people-centred care initiatives. https://peoplepowered.info/content/primary-health-care-corporation-qatar-a-global-leader-in-people-centred-care  A decade ago, PHCC embarked on a transformative journey to improve the quality of health services, undertaking a rigorous evaluation process within Accreditation Canada’s international program and becoming the first recipient of the People-Centred Care Commitment Award globally from Accreditation Canada. Discover the inspiring journey of Primary Health Care Corporation as it transforms into a global leader in primary and people-centred care. 

 Register for the Webinar on ISO 15189 Plus™ Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Program 

Join us for an insightful webinar on our internationally recognized ISO 15189 Plus™ Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation program. This session will enhance participants' knowledge about quality improvement initiatives in Diagnostic Imaging (DI). Key takeaways include background on the ISO 15189 Plus™ Accreditation program, how our accreditation program supports strategic hospital and health system goals, and how implementation of a quality management system (QMS) can improve DI services. The webinar will also include two client representatives who will share their experiences implementing accreditation standards. They will also take questions from webinar participants. Secure your spot now! https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TPwy43a_RCCQtPdgGfj98g#/registration 

Showcasing Innovation: Leading Practices in Action

• Embedding Ethics in Infection Prevention: Sunnybrook’s IPAC Framework 

The Challenge: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) teams were faced with complex, high-stakes decisions that lacked ethical guidance. This gap led to inconsistent practices, communication challenges, and strain among frontline staff, administrators, and leadership.  

The Solution: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre responded by creating a structured ethical framework for IPAC decision-making. Adapting existing ethical models, the team developed the Ethical IPAC (EIPAC) framework to promote fairness, inclusivity, and consistency in complex IPAC scenarios. The framework was piloted in long-term care homes and published for use by the global IPAC community. https://hubs.la/Q03kR--w0

• Addressing Gaps in Primary Care Access: New Brunswick Health Link (NBHL) 

The Challenge: Over 100,000 New Brunswickers lacked access to permanent primary care providers, leading to overcrowded emergency rooms, fragmented care in walk-in clinics, and delays in specialized services. 

The Solution: NBHL was launched in July 2022 as part of the provincial health plan to address these challenges. The program connects residents with care providers through in-person, phone, or virtual appointments in both official languages. Supported by a centralized digital health record integrated with the provincial health system, NBHL ensures accurate, coordinated and efficient care delivery. https://hubs.la/Q03kGnHS0