The Scarborough Hospital receives 2015 National Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award

THE Scarborough Hospital (TSH) has received the 2015 National Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL).

The CCHL’s National Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award honours a forward-thinking health care organization that has demonstrated leadership in creating and promoting diversity and inclusion to improve the environment for its employees, and to better service customers/patients and the community.

“Congratulations to the entire team for this wonderful recognition,” says Janet Dalicandro, Board Chair, TSH. “The Scarborough Hospital is proud to be an inclusive organization which reflects the diverse community we serve.”

“Our hospital has long realized the importance of improving the patient care experience by addressing the unique needs of our patients,” adds Robert Biron, President and CEO, TSH. “Over twenty years ago, we were one of the first hospitals in Ontario to dedicate a department and a director to meet the needs of our diverse community.

“In 2009, we built this commitment into our Vision, to be recognized as Canada’s leader in providing the best health care for a global community. This Vision challenged us to expand our concept of diversity beyond the typical boundaries of culture and ethnicity, and to ensure that equity and inclusion were an integral focus for our organization and a part of every aspect of our work.”

This steadfast dedication has contributed to a great number of successful initiatives, including:

  • The opening of the hospital’s innovative Global Community Resource Centre in 2012, launched in partnership with 14 community agencies, to empower patients and families with increased health literacy and access to community services;
  • Leading more than 1,000 community outreach sessions since 2009 to help the community better understand their health care options, navigate services, and provide input on hospital programs and services;
  • Implementing a dynamic educational curriculum for staff and physicians around diversity and inclusion, including mandatory training for management on how to lead a diverse workforce;
  • Supporting diverse maternal care by allowing mothers to give birth their way, according to their preferences, customs, and beliefs, as well as providing all midwives practicing in Scarborough with privileges at TSH;
  • A Chronic Disease Prevention Model that provides an equitable approach to how care should be delivered based on each patient’s distinct needs;
  • Improving care for seniors through a number of community  partnerships and programs designed to enhance the transition process from hospital to home and avoid future hospital readmissions;
  • Engaging in a number of academic research studies to help the hospital better understand how to deliver care to a diverse community; and,
  • Key health equity questions in the hospital’s patient satisfaction survey to identify barriers patients may encounter in accessing services.

“The Scarborough Hospital’s staff, physicians, and volunteers truly display a passion for delivering outstanding care that is sensitive, respectful, and responsive to the needs of everyone at their hospital and we are delighted to be able to present them with the 2015 National Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award,” says Ray Racette, MHA, CHE, President and CEO, CCHL.

The National Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award is part of a National Awards Program run by CCHL. The 2015 award recipients were honoured at the CCHL’s National Awards Gala on June 14.

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