Model of Care with 6 Core Strategies (MoC6) (Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care)

The Model of Care with 6 Core Strategies (MoC6) project is a large-scale clinical transformation project at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (Waypoint) aimed at improving patient outcomes, patient experience, staff engagement, and staff retention. Within this clinical transformation project are a number of deliverables, aligning with the Model of Care (ensuring we have the right staff, providing the right care, at the right time) or the 6 Core Strategies (reducing incidents resulting in restraints and seclusions). This project will have a significant impact across the hospital on the day-to-day experience of both patients and staff, while also improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Improving Patient Experience in Diverse Groups

Review RVH’s patient experience data, specifically looking at patient demographics (ethnic/cultural background), and the correlating scores. Identify areas of improvement based on the data and develop a quality improvement initiative to support the patient experience among this population.

Development of an Ethics Education Plan for Frontline Staff

Review RVH’s current Ethics framework, SharePoint Page, and available resources. Applying adult learning principles, develop an education plan and implementation schedule for frontline staff on Ethics at RVH.  Students would be expected to work towards the above outcomes and deliverables, reviewing ethics resources, adult learning principles and how to create an education plan an implementation schedule. This can be done remotely. 

Fresh Air, Better Care: Safe Implementation of Odor Control Devices in Acute Care

Hospital environments are highly sensitive to sensory factors, with odors having a notable impact on patient and staff experience. This project will explore how odor control strategies, compliant with Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) guidelines, can be effectively introduced into inpatient units at RVH. The student will work closely with hospital teams to research odor control technologies, engage in stakeholder discussions, and develop planning and educational materials. The project includes a literature review, equipment scan, and consultation with Environmental Services, IPAC, and Procurement. The student will assist in gathering vendor data, drafting initial guidelines, and producing educational content for staff. While not involved in procurement or decision-making, the student will contribute to laying the groundwork for future implementation.

Pause on Pressure: Collaborative Education Initiative (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

Pause on Pressure: Educate. Prevent. Empower. is a quality improvement initiative designed to enhance pressure injury prevention through re-examining the core reasons why pressure injuries are occurring and looking at how patients and their families can collaborate with the interprofessional team within the healthcare setting. Through discussion on the foundational elements leading to pressure injury formation and through the use of an iterative process, nursing students from Georgian College will co-create and pilot innovative, low-cost educational approaches that engage patients and families as active partners in pressure injury prevention. This project emphasizes shared ownership and innovative approaches to encourage collaboration between staff, patients, and families.

Patient Flow Collaborative (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

The purpose of this project is to create a structured organizational governance to initiate and monitor strategic, hospital-wide projects related to Patient Flow. Additionally, this organizational governance will be responsible for launching and implementing key priorities aimed at fostering a data-driven culture in relation to patient flow for FY 25/26, as well as developing a comprehensive plan for FY 26/27 and expansion to include other utilization management initiatives (e.g., resource utilization, case costing etc.). 3. Student Involvement: Staff education on prioritized patient flow metrics, data analysis for quality improvement, and/or support for our patient placement algorithm. Student could be remote or onsite. 4. Resources Required (if any): RVH badge, access to Meditech Expanse, RVH email. 5. Support Offered to Students: Supported by patient flow manager and project manager. Offer orientation to project work. Will attend weekly meetings.

Horizons - Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Horizons is an evidence-based initiative designed to promote equitable nurse-patient workloads, enhance job satisfaction, and improve retention at RVH. To achieve this, we structured the project into phases. In Phase One, we spent six intensive weeks on each inpatient unit and the emergency department, gathering baseline data through three key sources: unit demographics, patient acuity and dependency using the validated Safer Nursing Care Tool (SNCT), and frontline staff insights from focus groups. Now, in Phase Two, we are reconnecting with units to validate our initial findings, collecting a second round of patient acuity data to reflect seasonality, and compiling the Horizons Report.

Evaluating Communication Effectiveness in Heart Function Clinic (Heart Function Clinic at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

The RVH Heart Function Clinic is a nurse practitioner-led program providing comprehensive care for patients with heart failure, focusing on assessment, education, and treatment. While the clinic tracks quantitative metrics such as readmission rates and length of stay, patient and caregiver perspectives on the adequacy of information provided during appointments have not been formally evaluated. Effective communication is essential to improving patient outcomes, self-management, and overall satisfaction. This study aims to assess whether patients feel they receive clear and useful information,and identify potential gaps in communication, and inform quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient- centered care.

CLABSI Quality Improvement in the Intensive Care Unit (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

Our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring optimal patient safety. To further our efforts in this area, we are seeking to collaborate with Year 4 HBSN students on a research-based quality improvement project focused on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at RVH. The purpose of this project is to conduct a comprehensive data analysis of our current CLABSI rates within the ICU. This project will evaluate our ICU's performance against evidence-based standards and leading practices from comparable institutions, while simultaneously identifying opportunities to refine our existing procedures based on current research. This project will allow students to develop evidence-based recommendations for implementing or modifying protocols and procedures to reduce CLABSI rates in our ICU. This project is expected to have a significant positive impact on our organization by: • Improving Patient Safety: By reducing CLABSI rates, we can directly improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of complications. • Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice: The project will provide valuable insights into our current practices and facilitate the adoption of evidence-based interventions. • Facilitating Quality Improvement: The data analysis and benchmarking will enable us to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted quality improvement initiatives. • Strengthening Nursing Practice: The project will provide our nursing staff with valuable data and recommendations to inform their practice and promote a culture of continuous improvement. The evidence found would be shared with the nurses in our ICU.

Accelerate Patient Transfers (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH))

The purpose of this project is to expedite the transfer of patients from the Emergency Department (ED) to their assigned bed in the Inpatient Unit by implementing the Electronic Transfer of Accountability (eTOA). This will enable the use of Logistics (i.e., alternative non-clinical patient transporters), streamlining the process and improving efficiency.

Training Plan for Indigenous Cultural Safety at RVH.

Expected Outcomes & Deliverables: This project is expected to result in the development of an actionable Indigenous cultural safety training plan tailored to the needs of RVH. It will serve as a roadmap for integrating cultural safety education into the hospital.  Benefits to the Organization: Supports RVH’s commitment to reconciliation, health equity, and strategic plan.  Increased accessibility for training to staff that may not have the ability due to schedules/roles.  Offers a trauma informed approach to patient care.  Benefits for Students:  Real word experience with embedding Indigenous perspectives into healthcare.  Deepens students understanding.  Supports critical thinking, and community engagement.  Supports meaningful change in healthcare.  Student Involvement: This work can be completed by a hybrid approach, with a mix of onsite and remote work. The students will work in collaboration with RVH’s Indigenous patient services team.  Student tasks could include: Conducting research on best practices in Indigenous cultural safety training across other hospitals.  Gathering input through surveys or consultations with staff to identify staff needs and gaps. Assisting in the design of a training plan (e.g., structure, topics, levels). Outlining an implementation strategy including suggested timelines. Developing an evaluation model to measure improved patient care.  A final report or presentation that summarizes findings and recommendations. Resources Required (if any): Access to research (Staff can support in finding articles of note, case studies, and academic journals)  Access to staff  Policies  Support Offered to Students ( i.e. weekly meetings, mentorship, etc.): Meetings with students and Indigenous Patient Services.  By the end of this project, students will have contributed to a healthcare team that is leading the way in providing ongoing cultural safety training for staff, while hard wiring Indigenous initiatives through staff feedback. 

Improving Patient Experience: Data-Informed Quality Improvement (Southlake Health)

This project focuses on enhancing the patient experience by leveraging patient feedback and applying quality improvement principles. Students will review results from the Patient Experience Survey and the Patient Relations feedback to identify key themes and opportunities for improvement. They will also conduct environmental scans to understand best practices in similar healthcare settings. Based on their findings, students will propose a quality improvement initiative aimed at addressing identified gaps. The project will contribute to ongoing efforts to improve care delivery and patient satisfaction at the hospital.

Exploring Pain modalities and Outcomes to inform the Fractured Hip Optimization Project. (Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital)

The surgical team at OSMH is incorporating evidenced-based practices into the care plans for Patients who present with Fractured Hips. This work will continue to align with Ontario Health’s proposed Fracture Hip Standards. There will be direct review of conventional modalities with/without the use of fascia/iliac blocks related to patient outcomes. Outcomes directly reviewed will be pain control, functional outcomes related to early mobilization, delirium incidence and overall length of hospital stay.  

Optimizing Osteoporosis Management for the Fracture Population and Beyond! (Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital (OSMH))

Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital for many years has been partnered with Osteoporosis Canada (OC) to support surveillance of high-risk fracture patients. The Internal Osteoporosis Prevention Nurse Coordinator ensures patients have the necessary navigation to treatment regimens. To date there is not a large internal awareness of this screening done at OSMH, so having the students involved to add value and spread awareness to such a program would be an opportunity for us. Students could explore the work that has been done to date between OSMH/Osteoporosis Canada along with researching best practices to educate and promote the program. 

Predicting Local Healthcare Needs in Muskoka (Hospice Muskoka)

This project aims to map out the patient flow in Muskoka's healthcare system using data from key sources such as Hospice Muskoka, the District of Muskoka, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and Statistics Canada. The project will analyze current trends to create a five-year projection of local healthcare needs, focusing on hospice and palliative care services. The goal is to provide Hospice Muskoka with insights to better plan for future demand and improve the need for resources in the community.

ICU Sustainability Project Planning - Green Team (Brightshores Health System)

Climate change is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, and Intensive Care Units (ICU’s) are large consumers of energy and waste. ICUs rely heavily on single-use devices and patients require large amounts of drugs and supplies for their treatment. The sustainability Initiative for this capstone project is to lower the environmental impact of ICU admissions while maintaining high standards of quality care. One of the key initiatives for this project will be advocating and integrating sustainable practices into routine daily care for critically ill patients.

Medication Reconciliation quality audits (Brightshores Health System)

Medication reconciliation is “A formal process in which healthcare providers work together with patients to ensure accurate and comprehensive medication information is communicated consistently across transitions of care” and is known to decrease medication errors and reduce adverse medication events. Ensuring the information is as correct as possible at the time of documentation reduces confusion and ensures that the patient receives the intended medication therapy. Incomplete documentation of medications at transition points may actually promote incorrect medication use and sub-optimal care. There is a recognized quality scale for evaluating a best possible medication history (BPMH). Gathering data from these audits will enable managers and clinicians to improve medication reconciliation processes in their specific clinical environments. 

Improving Nutritional Status and Preventing Pressure Injuries in Frail Elderly Patients: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Enhancing Care (Brightshores Health System)

This capstone project focuses on improving the nutritional status and preventing pressure injuries (also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores) in frail elderly patients, who are at increased risk of both due to their age, frailty, and often complex medical conditions. Malnutrition and pressure injuries are common and debilitating health issues in this patient group, leading to longer hospital stays, complications, and reduced quality of life. The project will aim to assess the current care practices related to nutrition and pressure injury prevention, identify gaps in care, and develop a set of evidence-based strategies for improving outcomes. The purpose of this project is to create a comprehensive care model that involves early nutritional interventions, regular monitoring of patients' nutritional needs, and proactive measures to prevent pressure injuries. This will involve collaboration with nursing, dietary, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that frail elderly patients receive holistic, individualized care. The expected impact is a reduction in pressure injury development and an improvement in overall nutritional status, contributing to better recovery, fewer complications, and improved patient outcomes.

Bladder retraining protocol for spinal cord injury (Brightshores Health System)

Translate American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) guidelines to develop a nursing protocol for patient with neurological/traumatic spinal cord injuries that can be used in the acute care and rehabilitation settings. Student Involvement: Collaborative development of a protocol, possibly present to nursing practice council Resources Required: ASIA SCI program in neuroanatomy (ASTEP) and urinary incontinence management (UroSTEP)($50 course x 2). Remote development of the guidelines. Access to academic/hospital library. Access to Word, Powerpoint (or equivalent)

Integrating Indigenous Traditional Medicine into Western Health Care (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

This project explores the development of a Traditional Medicine Garden within the pharmacy department of the new Innisfil hospital expansion. The goal is to integrate Indigenous Medicines into the hospital, providing access to traditional medicine. This initiative supports connecting to culturally safe care for Indigenous patients while looking at a collaborative approach between Indigenous knowledge keepers/Healers and health care providers. The project will outline the vision, design, implementation steps, and expected impact of such a space in a health care setting.

Preventing Deconditioning in Elderly Patients After Prolonged Hospitalization: A Comprehensive Nursing Approach to Enhancing Recovery (Brightshores Health System)

This capstone project focuses on addressing the issue of deconditioning in elderly patients following prolonged hospitalization. Deconditioning refers to the physical decline and loss of function that occurs when patients are immobile or sedentary during extended hospital stays. Elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to this condition, which can result in longer recovery times, higher rates of complications, and decreased quality of life. The project aims to assess current hospital practices related to the prevention of deconditioning, identify gaps in care, and develop nursing interventions and strategies to enhance patient mobility, functional recovery, and overall health outcomes. The purpose of this project is to evaluate how nursing staff can contribute to reducing deconditioning through early mobilization, tailored exercise regimens, and the promotion of a proactive care plan that integrates physical activity, nutrition, and psychosocial support. By implementing these strategies, the project seeks to improve elderly patients’ functional outcomes after hospitalization and reduce the burden of deconditioning-related complications.

Increasing Universality of Hepatitis C Screening for Individuals who Use IV Drug’s in Grey/Bruce Counties (Brightshores Health Centre)

Project description: Nurse led Hepatitis C Clinic – Individuals who use IV drugs are at significant increase risk of transmission and infection of the Hepatitis C virus. At times it proves quite difficult to get clients in for their Hepatitis C blood work screening who are enrolled with the Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinic. Having capabilities of drawing blood for Hepatitis C screening onsite at the various RAAM clinics would decrease barriers related to transportation to LifeLabs/Lab locations and increase accessibility of screening.  Purpose: Increase Hepatitis C screening amongst individuals with a current or past history of IV drug use who attend the Brightshores RAAM clinics in Grey/Bruce.  Expected impact: Increase Hepatitis C screening and therefore cure more cases of Hepatitis C in Grey/Bruce which aligns with the WHOs goal of eradicating Hepatitis C by 2030 

Purposeful Rounding by Nurses to Reduce Falls and Delirium in Frail Elderly Patients: Enhancing Patient Safety and Quality of Care (Brightshores Health System)

This capstone project aims to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of purposeful rounding by nurses in reducing falls and delirium in frail elderly patients. Purposeful rounding is a proactive nursing intervention in which nurses routinely check on patients at scheduled intervals to address their needs, assess for early signs of complications, and ensure safety. Frail elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to falls and delirium, which can lead to longer hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and decreased quality of life. The project will assess the current state of purposeful rounding practices, identify areas for improvement, and provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancing patient safety through more intentional, frequent, and targeted rounding practices. The purpose of this project is to improve patient outcomes, specifically in reducing the incidence of falls and delirium, by creating a systematic and structured approach to purposeful rounding that prioritizes the unique needs of frail elderly patients. The expected impact is a reduction in falls and delirium, leading to improved recovery, decreased length of stay, and enhanced patient and family satisfaction with care.

Enhancing Stroke Care Workflow: A Cerner-Based Communication Initiative (Brightshores District Stroke Centre)

This project aims to enhance communication between the acute stroke team and nursing/allied health staff in the stroke unit, medical unit, and rehab unit by implementing a Cerner-based documentation system. The new documentation system will allow the acute stroke team to update patient progress daily without generating a new form each day. This will create a continuous, accessible patient record that follows stroke survivors from admission to discharge (either home or to a rehab facility). The improved documentation process is expected to streamline information sharing, reduce redundancy, and enhance care coordination. This project would benefit the organization for the next Regional Stroke Accreditation.

Developing a Green Strategy to Reduce Waste on an Inpatient Hospital Unit: A Sustainable Approach to Healthcare (Brightshores Health System)

This project aims to develop and implement a green strategy focused on reducing waste in an inpatient hospital unit. Healthcare facilities are significant contributors to environmental waste, including medical supplies, food waste, paper products, and energy consumption. These issues lead to increased operational costs and environmental degradation. Frail elderly patients, in particular, may generate more waste due to their extended hospital stays, and the general hospital environment can be inefficient in terms of resource use. The project’s purpose is to conduct a waste audit, identify key areas where waste can be reduced, and design a green strategy that addresses waste management, energy conservation, and sustainability within the hospital unit. This will involve establishing new protocols for reducing single-use plastics, improving recycling systems, optimizing medical supply usage, and reducing food waste. The expected impact of this project is a decrease in waste production, better resource utilization, and a more sustainable hospital environment that aligns with global sustainability efforts in healthcare. Resources Required (if any): The following resources will be required to successfully complete this project:  Hospital Data & Records: Access to hospital data on waste production, recycling practices, medical supply usage, and energy consumption will be essential for conducting the waste audit and evaluating current practices.  Collaboration with Hospital Departments: The student will need cooperation from various hospital departments, including environmental services, food services, nursing staff, and sustainability teams, to implement the green strategy and ensure alignment with hospital priorities.  Technology & Tools: The student will need access to data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS) to analyze waste and energy data. Tools like PowerPoint, Canva, or other design software will be required to create educational materials for staff.  Sustainability Resources: The student will need access to literature, case studies, and guidelines related to sustainability in healthcare settings to inform the development of the green strategy.  Training Materials & Resources: The student will need resources to create educational materials, including visual aids (e.g., posters, presentations) and handouts for staff training and engagement.  Ethics Approval (if applicable): If the project involves patient data or direct patient interaction, ethics approval may be required from the hospital’s research board. With these resources, the student will be equipped to complete a comprehensive waste audit, develop a green strategy, and implement sustainable practices that improve environmental and operational outcomes in the hospital. Support Offered to Students (i.e. weekly meetings, mentorship, etc.): A leader will meet weekly with the student and offer mentorship

Patient Education (Headwaters Healthcare Centre)

Purpose: to empower patients by optimizing and creating patient education that aligns with best practices and current practices at HHCC Expected impact: At HHCC there are opportunities to update current patient education while in some areas there is a need for new patient education since HHCC recently has implemented new quality initiatives through new innovation equipment and procedure, and processes. The specific focus of this project will be in 3 clinical areas: a. Ambulatory Care Clinics- develop discharge patient education materials specific to each clinics b. Operating room and Surgical Units - develop discharge instructions for specific procedures c. Inpatient /outpatient units – update current admission handbook

Evaluation of Safety Huddles (Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care)

This project will evaluate the implementation of standardized daily safety huddles across inpatient programs at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. Safety huddles are brief, structured team meetings held at the start of each shift to proactively identify and address safety concerns impacting patients, staff, and the healthcare environment. The aim of this capstone is to assess the consistency, effectiveness, and staff perceptions of the safety huddles and provide recommendations for improvement and ongoing sustainability. The evaluation will utilize tools from the Safety Huddles Implementation Guide, including staff and observer surveys, action logs, and visual management board usage, to identify facilitators and barriers to successful implementation.

Improving Patients’ Feelings of Safety – a QI Initiative (Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care)

This capstone project supports a key initiative in Waypoint’s Quality Improvement Plan aimed at enhancing the overall patient experience by improving patients’ feelings of safety. Feedback from patient experience surveys has highlighted opportunities to better support patients in feeling safe while on program, during interactions with staff and peers, and throughout the hospital environment. The project will focus on improving the processes used to monitor and respond to patient-identified safety risks. Additionally, it will examine how the patient voice is incorporated into daily safety huddles and how anonymous reporting tools can be optimized to capture concerns and drive meaningful action.

Streamlining Code Call Reporting Processes Using Lean Methodology (Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care)

This capstone project focuses on improving the workflow used by Security & Emergency Services for reporting code calls within the event reporting system at Waypoint. Currently, code call events are entered into multiple systems, leading to duplication of work, potential inefficiencies, and questions around the purpose and value of each reporting requirement. The aim of this project is to evaluate the current reporting process, understand the rationale behind each step, and apply Lean principles to streamline the workflow. This will help eliminate waste, reduce duplication, improve data accuracy, and support more efficient reporting practices aligned with organizational quality and safety goals.

Enhancing Transfer of Accountability between Emergency Department and Diagnostic Imaging (Georgian Bay General Hospital)

Information transfer at care transitions is an accreditation Canada standard and is essential to ensure patient safety. Patients receiving care in the emergency department who require diagnostic imaging services often have specific care needs (e.g. falls risk, altered level of consciousness, oxygen requirements etc) that are at times not well communicated between team members. This project aims to assess the current transfer process, review best practice standards, identify gaps and develop a standardized communication strategy for the teams and evaluate adoption of the process.