Awards and Appointments

Sanofi Announces Nursing Recognition Program to Help Turn Caring Ideas into Reality

Sanofi has announced the launching of the Care Challenge program. Care Challenge (www.care-challenge.com) is an online initiative developed by Sanofi for nurses in collaboration with nurses' organizations and is part of the Connecting Nurses international initiative. It takes the form of a contest, accessible from a dedicated website where nurses can submit their ideas and vote on or discuss the ideas of other nurses.

The Care Challenge is a unique nursing community that enables members to share information and education with others in the field and nominate colleagues for an award in nursing excellence. This recognition program is open to licensed nurses anywhere in the world. A total of 20 awards will be presented for the best ideas, providing an unprecedented opportunity to develop these initiatives further and gain global recognition for them.

The program offers other benefits, such as improving recognition of the nursing community by giving nurses a stronger voice. Indeed, it will support dialogue within the profession by creating networking opportunities at the national and international levels. Helping to share knowledge on nursing techniques will enhance education, research and practice as well as patient care.

Winners and Awards

There are two categories in the recognition program, "Helping Hand" and "Nurse in the Limelight." Taking into account various criteria, including but not limited to a Web-based vote, a jury will choose 10 winners from each category. Ten winners in the "Helping Hand" category will each receive $3,000 to support their project's continued success, and 10 winners in the "Nurse in the Limelight" category will be prominently featured on the Care Challenge website with a professionally produced video describing their innovations.

Entering Care Challenge

The program is focused on identifying nursing innovations in the following categories.

• Education: Resources promoting patient self-management or raising community awareness of a disease.
• Practice: Nursing services, procedures, techniques or tools promoting patient self-management of disease or new ways to support families and caregivers.
• Research: Studies of outcomes of innovative approaches to nursing, patient care and patient education.

Full details of the entry process and criteria can be found at www.carechallenge.com/en/help?tab=entries.

Nursing Outcome Indicators Collaboration

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) have announced the release of a new publication, Nursing Outcome Indicators. The publication provides a cross-map between Canadian Health Outcomes for Better Information and Care (C-HOBIC) and International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®).

Sponsored by CNA, C-HOBIC enables the collection of standardized clinical outcomes to reflect nursing practice in Canada. It provides a systematic, structured approach to capture outcome measures across acute, continuing complex, long-term and home care settings. Each outcome includes a concept definition, a valid and reliable measure, and empirical evidence with links to nursing inputs or interventions. The concepts address functional status, therapeutic self-care, symptom management and safety.

ICNP®, a program of ICN, is an international standard nursing terminology for use in electronic health records. Using ICNP® as the coding structure for this project, CNA and its partners can demonstrate the feasibility and value of mapping current nursing information to a standardized terminology, and position clinical outcomes reflective of nursing practice for inclusion in the pan-Canadian health record. ICNP® is part of the ICN eHealth Programme, whose vision is to transform nursing through the application of information and communication technology.

Western Nursing Professor Secures $1.35M CIHR Grant

A Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant valued at $1,371,511 over five years has been awarded to University of Western Ontario nursing professor Helene Berman and her team. The project, titled Promoting Health through Collaborative Engagement with Youth in Canada: Overcoming, Resisting and Preventing Structural Violence, hopes to examine how structural violence is experienced by youth in Canada and how it influences their health. It will also identify strategies that can be used to address and prevent violence.

Project objectives include:

• Examine how structural forms of violence are defined, understood and experienced by youth;
• Examine, from the perspectives of youth, how structural violence shapes their health and well-being;
• Undertake a critical and historical analysis of relevant policies to identify how institutions wittingly or unwittingly contribute to the victimization or vulnerability of youth and the differential impacts of policies on diverse groups of youth;
• Examine how structural violence is minimized, reinforced or enacted through interactions with various systems/institutions (e.g., child welfare, justice, health, Indian affairs, citizenship and immigration), and how these interactions influence health; and
• Evaluate the use of youth-centred participatory action research approaches as a strategy to promote health by empowering youth to overcome, resist and prevent structural forms of violence in their lives.

Berman's team includes Lorie Donelle, Cheryl Forchuk and Abe Oudshoorn, all faculty members of the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, who will serve as co-investigators on the project.

Bloomberg Nursing Professor's Ontario Early Researcher Award Supports Education of Emerging Sleep Scientists

The Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation has presented Dr. Robyn Stremler, of the University of Toronto's Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, with an Early Researcher Award (ERA) that will help fund the education of the next generation of sleep scientists in the province – a field in which nurses are especially underrepresented.

Stremler, a CIHR New Investigator, is the principal investigator for the Sleep TYME (Throughout Your Motherhood Experience) Study, which will provide a better understanding of the prevalence of, and risk factors for, sleep disturbance in pregnancy. Little research has examined women's experiences of sleep loss and disturbance during this period, but there is evidence that poor sleep in pregnancy and after birth increases the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, such as pre-eclampsia, caesarean section and depression. The information gathered during the study will aid in the design of prevention and screening strategies, and guide the development of interventions to improve the health of mothers and infants.

Former Health Council of Canada Councillors Appointed to Order of Canada

Dr. Jeanne Besner and Dr. Robert McMurtry were recently appointed members of the Order of Canada for their outstanding contributions in promoting and improving the health and well-being of Canadians.

A registered nurse, researcher and former chair of the Health Council of Canada, Dr. Besner joined the Health Council in 2003 and led the organization from 2006 until 2010. She acted as a national ambassador for the organization and for healthcare renewal in Canada, and was also the driving force behind the council's progress report in 2008 and its transition to a renewed mandate in 2010.

Dr. McMurtry was a founding councillor at the Health Council of Canada. He was the chair of the council's Wait Times and Accessibility Work Group, leading the development of various reports on wait times and access from 2003 to 2007.

Two New Appointments to the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, minister of health, has announced the appointment of Ms. Maura Davies and Mr. Martin LeBlanc to the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for a three-year term.

Ms. Davies is the president and chief executive officer of the Saskatoon Health Region. She has over 30 years' experience in healthcare as a clinical dietitian, educator and senior executive. Ms. Davies holds baccalaureate degrees in science and education and a master's degree in health services administration. She has a part-time faculty appointment in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Mr. LeBlanc is the president and CEO of Caprion Proteomics in Montreal and also sits on the boards of Victhom Human Bioncs, Montreal InVivo and the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Moncton and completed a master's degree in economics and politics at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Jane Aubin Named New Chief Scientific Officer/Vice-President of Research at CIHR

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced the appointment of Dr. Jane Aubin to the position of chief scientific officer/vice-president, research. As chief scientific officer, Dr. Aubin will assume responsibility for the oversight of all scientific affairs at CIHR and provide CIHR with expert advice on matters relevant to science and technology, potential opportunities and emerging orientations and trends in the national and international health research community. As vice-president of research, she will also be responsible for all aspects of adjudication of grants and awards at CIHR. Finally, as a member of the Scientific Council, she will participate in the development, implementation and reporting of CIHR's research and knowledge translation strategy.

Dr. Aubin's career path has included several senior academic administrative positions, including chair of the Graduate Department of Dentistry, director of Postgraduate Dental Education and chair of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Toronto. She is currently a member of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, where she is a professor of molecular genetics and the director of the Bone Program at the Centre for Modeling Human Disease.

Dr. Aubin has been scientific director and CEO of the Canadian Arthritis Network of Centres of Excellence and, for the past four years, scientific director of CIHR's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA). During her time as scientific director of IMHA, she has shown outstanding leadership qualities and an unwavering commitment to working with others to improve the health and quality of life of patients with arthritic, musculoskeletal, oral and skin conditions.

Yves Joanette Appointed Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Aging

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced the appointment of Dr. Yves Joanette as incoming scientific director of CIHR's Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA).

Dr. Joanette is currently a professor at Université de Montréal's Faculty of Medicine and was the director of the Centre de recherche de l'institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM) between 1997 and 2009. He served as president and chief executive officer at Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec as well as chair of the agency's board of directors from 2009 to 2011.

For five years, he was also the director of Université de Montréal's School of Speech Therapy and Audiology and CRIUGM's associate director of clinical research. Following his doctorate degree in neurological sciences from Université de Montréal (1980), Dr. Joanette went on to post-doctoral training in neuropsychology and behavioural neurology in Marseille, France, where he was a founding member of the Human Neuropsychology Laboratory at École des hautes études en sciences sociales (1982).

Andreas Laupacis Receives the 2011 HSRA Award

The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation recently conferred the 2011 Health Services Research Advancement Award on Dr. Andreas Laupacis, executive director of Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital.

Dr. Laupacis, who is also a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, is past president and CEO of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and was the first chair of the Canadian Expert Drug Advisory Committee. For over 30 years, he has been a leader in bridging research to policies that improve the health of Canadians. Together with Dr. David Sackett and Prof. Robin Roberts, he introduced and developed the concept of "number needed to treat," a measure of treatment effectiveness that has come to be a vital component of the clinical and research lexicon.

Dr. Laupacis is currently working with a core team of physicians, policy advisers and researchers to maintain an interactive website (www.healthydebate.ca) that provides factual, easy-to-understand information designed to engage citizens in dialogue about important healthcare issues.

Dr. Andrea Covelli Named First-Ever Roche Canada – Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Physician Fellow

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region (CBCF-Ontario) is proud to announce Dr. Andrea Covelli as the first-ever named fellow through a sponsorship initiative between Roche Canada and CBCF-Ontario. Dr. Covelli is a general surgery resident at the University of Toronto and a PhD candidate in the university's Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, conducting research through Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She was awarded the two-year fellowship to support her research into why some women with early breast cancer undergo more extensive surgery instead of breast-sparing surgery. This is CBCF-Ontario's first Named Fellowship, made possible through a sponsorship generously provided by Roche Canada. Named Fellowships are a new addition to CBCF-Ontario's overarching fellowship program, which is designed to help develop the next generation of breast cancer researchers and clinicians.

Announcements

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Receives $420M Over Five Years

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) will receive $420 million over five years from the government of Ontario to continue its research into the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The institute will also occupy two floors of Phase II of the MaRS Centre in downtown Toronto in addition to its current laboratories and offices at its headquarters in the MaRS Centre.

The announcement means continued support for the institute in fulfilling the ambitious goals set out in its second strategic plan for 2010–2015, which focuses on the adoption of more personalized approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment. OICR's current research activities in genomics and bioinformatics will be expanded in the new space in Phase II, allowing the institute to increase its capacity to make new discoveries and move them out of the laboratory into the clinic for the benefit of patients. The funding will also enable the Ontario Health Study to complete its recruitment plans for the study, which will lead to better prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases.

University of Alberta First in Canada to Receive Award for Mental Health First Aid

The University of Alberta (U of A) was recently honoured by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) for promoting mental health literacy among staff members. The U of A has trained over 250 staff in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a program that teaches participants the skills and knowledge to help them better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague.

This is the first time the MHCC has presented a Canadian university with an award related to MHFA.

Alberta Launches Multiple Sclerosis Observational Study

A new Web-based study that will document and track the experiences of Albertans who suffer from MS, in particular those who have had the Zamboni treatment or other similar procedures, is now up and running. Researchers at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta, along with experts from the MS community, have worked since December 2010 to put the study together.

The Zamboni treatment, which is not approved for use in Canada, is being offered in other countries to treat chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). CCSVI is a syndrome associated with reduced blood drainage between the brain and heart that some researchers believe is linked to MS.

The study is being funded with an investment of up to $1 million by Alberta Health and Wellness. The Alberta Multiple Sclerosis Initiative (TAMSI) study will include a self-administered online survey (available at www.tamsi.ca) that patients with MS or related conditions, once registered, will fill out at six-, 12-, 18- and 24-month intervals. The study will match anecdotal information with files from patients' electronic health records from physician visits or medical tests.

Saskatchewan Patients' Experiences with Hospital Care: More Information Now Available Online

More information on how Saskatchewan patients feel about the care they're receiving in hospital is now publicly available on a website tracking the performance of the province's health system.

Twenty new indicators from an ongoing patient survey have been added to the Quality Insight website (www.qualityinsight.ca), a provincial resource launched by the Health Quality Council (HQC) in mid-February, to give the people who manage and deliver healthcare in Saskatchewan – and the people who use those services – easier access to information about the province's healthcare system. The new information includes patients' responses to questions about whether they would recommend a particular hospital to family and friends, communication by healthcare providers during their hospital stay and pain control. It joins other information from the patient surveys, and other measures of healthcare quality, already available on the Quality Insight website.

Manitoba Funds Development of New Course to Support Diabetes Education, Care in First Nations Communities

A new Web-based, professional development course on diabetes care and treatment will support healthcare providers working in First Nation communities in Manitoba. The development of the @YourSide Colleague First Nations Diabetes Circle of Care course was supported by $50,000 in provincial government funding. The course was developed in response to recommendations from the Manitoba First Nations Patient Wait Time Guarantee Project for the prevention, care and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The project was a joint initiative between Manitoba Health, Saint Elizabeth First Nations Inuit and Métis Program and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. The course is one of 10 Web-based professional development courses the Saint Elizabeth First Nations Inuit and Métis Program provides at no charge to First Nation communities.

Manitoba Continues Funding for Successful Nursing Education Pilot Program

Manitoba is providing $250,000 in funding for permanent implementation of the Enhanced Orientation to Long-Term Care Program, a successful orientation and ongoing education program for nurses working in long-term care facilities across the province.

The program offers mentoring opportunities and a series of six clinical workshops. The workshops were developed and designed to be implemented as a series, used individually or adapted to other healthcare settings, such as acute care.

The pilot program was originally funded by Health Canada and implemented by Manitoba Health, the Manitoba Nurses Union and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, with the support of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU). The Manitoba project was part of federally funded pilots across Canada focused on nurse recruitment and retention as part of CFNU's Research to Action: Applied Workplace Solutions for Nurses initiative.

New Nurse Practitioner–Led Clinic Will Improve Access to Care for 3,200 Londoners

A new nurse practitioner–led clinic in London, Ontario that is opening this fall will bring peace of mind to over 3,200 people who will be able to access healthcare closer to home. The Health Zone nurse practitioner–led clinic's team of staff will include four nurse practitioners, two registered nurses, one registered dietician, one social worker and the collaboration of a doctor. Nurse practitioner–led clinics offer a team-based approach to front-line healthcare services by collaborating with doctors and other healthcare professionals.

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) launched its National Expert Commission this past May. Over the next year, the Commission will undertake an ambitious agenda to generate policy solutions that contribute to a transformed health system – one that is better equipped to meet the changing health needs of Canada's population.

The National Expert Commission is made up of a diverse roster of Canadians with complementary backgrounds, experience and expertise who will guide the work of the Commission, including engagement activities across the country. Co-chaired by two exceptionally capable and respected Canadians, Marlene Smadu and Maureen A. McTeer, the Commissioners share a strong common value around broad social and environmental determinants of health including, but not limited to, the formal healthcare system.

With the looming expiry of the health accord in 2014, the future of Canada's healthcare system is at a critical juncture. It has a sound foundation that provides well for many people, but not all. It is no secret that the system needs great improvement to meet the growing, diverse and changing health needs of Canadians. Directly involved with patients, families and communities, Canada's 266,000 registered nurses provide care across all levels of the system, also working in administrative, research, policy and education roles. They therefore have invaluable knowledge and insights to help improve the nation's health.

Nurses have made significant contributions to the evolution of the healthcare system based on research, knowledge and experience. With that foundation, CNA's Commission is embarking on a mission to consult with Canadians across the country so they can contribute to the development of policy recommendations to transform health and the healthcare system. The recommendations will shape healthcare for all Canadians; therefore, all sectors – from nurses, employers and unions to economists, professionals and the general public – will be consulted.

In addition to the collection of national input, the National Expert Commission will analyze and synthesize existing published research, innovations and success stories across the health and social systems. By June 2012, the Commissioners will make practical, evidence-driven recommendations that contribute to better health, better care and better value for Canadians.

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