GUELPH, April 2, 2009 – Guelph General Hospital (GGH) is among 16 organizations that have recently been selected to implement and evaluate a series of internationally-recognized nursing best practices. The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) announced that the Hospital has been selected to be one of its Spotlight organizations that will implement a number of RNAO’s best practice guidelines during a three-year partnership. GGH has selected guidelines which will have the greatest impact on the health and well-being of patients and will develop creative strategies to implement and evaluate them. This initiative is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), with matching funds provided by the Hospital.

“Spotlight organizations play a key role in ensuring that all health-care organizations and the health-care system itself provide nursing care based on the best evidence possible. The aim is to create working environments where the latest research is used in day-to-day practice by all nurses,” explains Irmajean Bajnok, Director of International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Programs at RNAO. “These Spotlight organizations support nurses to enhance their practice based on the best evidence so they can provide the highest quality of care to their clients. Such organizations are better equipped to retain a qualified nursing workforce and recruit additional staff as required.”

RNAO’s Best Practice Guidelines provide nurses and other members of health-care teams with current, comprehensive recommendations for patient care based on the latest research evidence. To date, 32 clinical and seven healthy work environments guidelines have been developed, implemented and evaluated by thousands of expert nurses from all regions of the province and sectors of health care.

“Implementing best practices is an essential component to achieving Guelph General Hospital’s Vision of ‘achieving excellence in everything we do’, ” said Richard Ernst, President and CEO. “I appreciate the confidence the RNAO has placed in our team by selecting us as a partner in this important investment in patient care quality.”

GGH has proposed to adopt five new best practices. “We are already well under way with a number of evidence-based best practices,” said Michelle Bott, Director, Professional Practice. “Over the next three years we will continue to focus on implementing additional aspects of five best practice guidelines; Assessment and Management of Pain, Assessment and Management of Venous Leg Ulcers, Stroke Assessment across the Continuum of Care, Breastfeeding Best Practice Guideline for Nurses and Workplace Health as well as Safety and Well-being of the Nurse Guideline.”

Eileen Bain, Vice President Patient Services and Chief Nursing Executive, said, “I am confident these guidelines will help Guelph General Hospital continue to improve patient outcomes and promote consistent, high-quality care.”