Joseph Brant Hospital is committed to providing the highest standard of safe, quality care for the people that we serve.
As part of the Auditor General of Ontario’s 2019 Annual Report, data collected from individual hospital’s Accreditation Patient Safety Culture Surveys was used to measure patient safety at Ontario Hospitals, including Joseph Brant Hospital. This survey was not intended to measure patient safety within an organization or to compare any hospital to its peers. Joseph Brant Hospital is collaborating with the Ontario Hospital Association and peer hospitals to provide accurate information on the intent of the Patient Safety Culture Survey and on how we use this data to improve patient safety.
As one small part of the comprehensive accreditation process by Accreditation Canada, hospital staff are surveyed every four years and asked to rate their perception of their hospital’s quality and safety through the Patient Safety Culture Survey. This survey is used as a self-evaluation process to allow the hospital to identify strengths and opportunities at a single point in time, as part of a much broader accreditation process. The survey was administered to JBH staff and physicians, from November 28, 2017 to March 9, 2018.
The timing for this survey came during the midst of significant transformation for our teams. Four months prior to the survey, the hospital opened a new Patient Tower with renovations ongoing in the existing facility. The redevelopment project introduced new physical spaces, new processes, new equipment and new technology, in addition to the challenges of physically relocating patients into the new space. The Patient Safety Culture Survey was a tool designed to facilitate a better understanding of staff perceptions of safety during this time of significant transition and help JBH to implement changes to ensure that patients and clients continue to receive the highest-quality care possible.
The hospital’s progress on the results of the Patient Safety Culture Survey, were evaluated eight months later by Accreditation Canada surveyors during our on-site Accreditation survey in November 2018. JBH was very successful in utilizing the Patient Safety Culture Survey process to identify and act upon opportunities for continuous improvement based on our staff’s perceptions identified in the survey from November 28, 2017- March 9, 2018. We are proud to report JBH achieved 100% of the 700 “Safety Domain” Standard Criteria, 100% of the 361 Required Organizational Practice Tests of Compliance (1061/1061 total safety criteria), and 97.4% of the 3127 evaluation criteria.
In JBH’s 2018 Accreditation Final Report, the on-site surveyors noted “Policies and procedures are current, with patient and staff safety as the foundation for all efforts and activities in the program.” They also identified “Patient safety is paramount, being front and centre as soon as patients and families arrive at the unit. Questionaires are completed and necessary assessment (e.g. Falls risk) are completed before patient recieves service. Staff can flag suggested opportunities for improvement and leadership supports taking action.” These comments indicate that the hospital’s actions in response to the survey results were seen as appropriate and as having had a positive impact on patient safety.
Through our commitment to patient safety and continuous improvement, JBH continues to implement initiatives to enhance the safety of our patients. Every day, our hospital works to create a culture of patient safety that involves everyone – health care administration, health care professionals and, of course, patients and their families. We recognize these results and achievements as a representation of our ongoing progress of patient safety initiatives:
- JBH experienced a 12.5% decrease in number of incidents reported (with harm) in the first six months of fiscal year 2019-2020, as compared to the first six months of 2018-2019. This decrease was achieved despite an increase in patient volumes.
- JBH’s innovative, technology-driven approach to enhancing our patient medication safety practice was featured in Health Quality Ontario’s Quorum. The article describes our success in using technology to implement the Medication Reconciliation safety practice. Our approach helps to ensure that accurate and comprehensive medication information is communicated consistently throughout the patient’s journey of care.
- JBH’s Hospital Standard Mortality Ratio (HSMR) was below the average for Canadian hospitals at 94 in 2018-2019, and continues to decrease over time. The HSMR is an important standardized tool to measure whether the number of deaths for an organization is higher or lower than the average experience of all Canadian hospitals. Tracking this metric helps hospitals monitor changes over time and identify areas for improvement.
Joseph Brant Hospital is committed to the relentless pursuit of safety. We believe that our recent Accreditation with Exemplary Standing reflects our commitment to continuous learning and improvement. We are a leader in patient safety, and we continue to implement innovative approaches to ensure that the care that we provide reflects the best practices in quality and safety.
Sincerely,
Eric Vandewall
President and CEO
Joseph Brant Hospital
Ian Preyra, MD, MBA, FRCPC (EM)
Chief of Staff
Joseph Brant Hospital
Burlington, ON 
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