Southlake Regional Health Centre staff are being recognized for their contributions to the patient experience with celebrations that include a visit from the Tiny Toms doughnut truck.
A long line of employees from all departments at the Newmarket hospital lined up today for free doughnuts as part of the annual Patient Experience Week.
"This week is really about celebrating our patients, but really it's recognizing everyone that goes into impacting that,” said Sarah Alisch, director of patient experience at Southlake.
Everyone at the hospital, including volunteers, doctors, nurses, housekeeping, back office staff and others, impact a patient's experience, she added.
From April 23 to 30, the patient experience team is hand delivering thank you cards, holding daily prize draws, and hosting events like the doughnut truck to express thanks to staff for all they do.
“It’s an opportunity really to celebrate and recognize all the hard work that goes into trying to provide the best patient experience possible,” Alisch said.
In the last quarter of last year, 96 per cent of families said they experienced genuine care and compassion during their time at Southlake, according to the patient experience team.
For staff members, that can include helping visitors navigate their way around the hospital, making sure patients have what they need, being friendly and welcoming and, of course, in providing medical care.
Patient experience is also informed by the feedback of families and patients. This is done through the patient family advisors, volunteers who are part of every department in the hospital and provide a voice for patients based on their own experiences.
“We want the valuable opinion of our patient family advisors to help inform the care, the direction, our projects. It’s an important opportunity to get to be part of shaping what goes on at the hospital,” Alisch said.
The program was put on pause during the pandemic but now it is being rebuilt and Southlake is inviting volunteers to take part in it. You can apply for the program online.
