The 2015 OACCAC Achieving Excellence Together Conference came to life on May 27-29, 2015 in Toronto.  More than 1,100 delegates benefitted from 48 engaging educational sessions and fruitful discussion panels.  Enhanced areas of focus in the 2015 conference program included patient and caregiver engagement, palliative care and LGBT topics.  The exhibit floor was buzzing as delegates networked with their colleagues and learned about innovative health care products and services from 71 exhibitors and 26 sponsors.

Thought-provoking keynote presentations left conference delegates informed and inspired.  Dr. Samantha Nutt, a physician at Women’s College Hospital and the founder of War Child, delivered a pertinent address on leadership in difficult times.  Dr. Nutt reflected on both the promise and uncertainty transformation brings, and on how to achieve excellence together.  She imparted that in the face of cynicism, achieving excellence is about finding the strength and courage to withstand the ups and downs, being flexible and adaptable, and that sometimes a completely different approach is needed to break through.  Dr. Nutt asserted “If no one is listening, don’t shout.  Change the message.”

Dr. Anne Snowdon, Chair of the International Centre for Health Innovation at Western University’s Ivey Business School, presented an insightful case for health care transformation in her keynote address on the personalization of health care.

Dr. Snowdon explained that health care is the largest business in the world and all countries are facing the challenge of rising costs. Costs are far outdistancing the resources available to fund health care. Canada, for example, spends 11 per cent of its gross domestic product on health care.  This is why Dr. Snowdon argues that the transformation and innovation agenda is critical, and emphasizes that the sustainability of health care is 100 per cent dependent on how well we do in the community sector.

Watch a video clip of Dr. Anne Snowdon’s keynote presentation:

 

Canadians rank health care as the most important sector in society and have expectations that are vastly different. “We don’t always think to sit down with the people we’re trying to deliver great care to and then have them design it [health services] for us” said Dr. Snowdon, and adds “We have a very traditional health system.  We tend not to think about it in terms of consumer values, needs, expectations.”

Dr. Snowdon said that focusing on the experience of the person, and less so on a patient’s diagnosis, is where we need to start on the transformation journey in health care, asking “How often do we make decisions for people based on our best evidence?  As opposed to saying to our families, what do you want to achieve and how can we most help you get there?  As long as I can help you understand all the possibilities that you’re facing.”

The 2015 OACCAC conference welcomed the Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, for remarks on the valuable role of home and community care in Ontario’s health care system.  Minister Hoskins spoke about the Ontario government’s commitment to patients and caregivers through

Patients First: A Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care (PDF).  He thanked home and community care workers for their dedication and passion in caring for individuals who are among the most vulnerable in society and affirmed “As our population ages, home and community care is becoming more and more important.  And because of that, the role that our CCACs play is increasingly important.”

Minister Hoskins also underscored that the roadmap focuses on the experience of those receiving care, saying “Clients and their caregivers are our first priority.”

Watch Health Minister Eric Hoskins’ remarks at the 2015 OACCAC conference:

The OACCAC conference was fortunate to host Bonnie Jordan, a caregiver to her husband who suffered from Lewy body dementia before he passed away.  Bonnie reflected on the challenges of her experience as an unwavering caregiver and shared her insights on ways to ensure caregivers are supported.  Areas she touched on included:

• Caregiver education
• Caregiver support groups for sharing information and advice, and to help diminish isolation and loneliness
• Guidance on the practical aspects of managing in-home care for loved ones
• Day programs for loved ones
• Subsidized travel
• Respite care for loved ones so caregivers can get much needed breaks
• Listening to the invaluable information and insights caregivers offer about their loved ones – caregivers know their loved ones best
• Increasing the amount of respite beds, including for dementia patients, and length of stay periods
• More effective pain management and end-of-life care
• Grief counselling for caregivers

OACACC CEO Catherine Brown introduces caregiver Bonnie Jordan for remarks:

This year’s Awards for Excellence were presented at the OACACC conference on May 28, 2015 and truly reflected how excellence can be achieved together for the patients and caregivers of Ontario.  The 2015 CCAC and OACCAC partners, projects and staff who were recognized for demonstrating outstanding collaboration, innovation, leadership and a continued focus on the patient included:

• Award for Lifetime Leadership: Camille Orridge, Toronto Central LHIN CEO
• CCAC Citizenship Award: Kelsey Lett, Champlain CCAC patient and patient engagement adviser
• CCAC Leadership Award: Daniel Ball, Director of Client Services and Clinical Analytics, Central West CCAC
• CCAC Staff Team Award: The Hospital-Patient Flow Improvement Team, Central West CCAC
• Individual CCAC Staff Award: Naomi Uy, CCAC Business Systems Analyst, Central West CCAC
• Sector Innovation Award: The Partnering for Quality team, South West CCAC
• System Partnership Award:  The Connecting Northern and Eastern Ontario Community Expansion project, North East CCAC

OACCAC CEO Catherine Brown introduces Kelsey Lett, a Champlain CCAC patient and patient engagement adviser, for remarks at the Awards for Excellence:

 

 

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2015 at 1:43 pm and is filed under Publisher's Page.