Donors help drive culture shift in patient care


New Westminster, B.C. – {April 30, 2018} – Better patient care, greater efficiency and lower costs are among the goals of an ongoing collaboration at Royal Columbian Hospital that includes frontline healthcare providers and Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.

The Quality Improvement program at Royal Columbian Hospital encourages clinical care staff to identify strategies and solutions for innovation and improvement while maintaining world-class patient-partnered care. With support from Foundation donors and sponsors, dozens of initiatives have been launched to improve patient experiences, reduce hospital stays, lower infection rates, and decrease healthcare costs.

“There’s a strong culture that has developed at Royal Columbian as a result of the efforts of many who want the best for their patients,” says Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation President and CEO Jeff Norris. “It’s inspiring to see the number of initiatives that are underway throughout the hospital.”

The quality improvement team is being led by surgeon Dr. John Hwang, whose work includes an annual Quality Improvement Day that showcases many of the projects that have led to meaningful results.

“It’s the idea that every single employee has a role to play in improving patient care, and every patient has a role in partnering with their health care team to improve their patient experience,” says Dr. Hwang. “Through the cumulative efforts of the entire team, we deliver better care more efficiently and at lower cost.”

The 3rd annual Quality Improvement Day is being held on May 3, 2018. Special thanks to lead sponsors Physician Quality Improvement and Merck Canada.

Your care is critical

At Royal Columbian, the most seriously ill and injured get their greatest chance at life. We are the only hospital in BC with trauma, cardiac, neurosciences, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care on one site. We look after some of the most seriously ill and injured patients, and we do it with the support of donors like you.

Since 1978, donors to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation have helped fund priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at Royal Columbian Hospital.