Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinte Health Care’s management and staff are focusing on improving quality of care, especially in three areas.
Two of those are clearing up a diagnostic imaging backlog, especially with MRIs and speeding up patient flow through emergency departments.
The third is clearing up a surgical backlog caused by pandemic restrictions. Board Chair Nancy Evans said despite the demand for surgery being near normal these days, playing catch-up is difficult.
“Certainly the human resources challenge has an impact on this and restricts the ability to accelerate that capacity to a higher level in terms of dealing with the waiting list.”
It was stressed that high priority cases involving the emergency department, diagnostic imaging, and surgery were getting cared for at or near provincial targets.
The wait list problems were mostly with low priority illness or injury.
In other news, Quinte Health Care’s Board of Directors has given special recognition to the organization’s first ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Board Chair Nancy Evans said the committee has sparked many discussions among the staff and management, leading to people recognizing unconscious biases.
The committee has also been promoting fair and equitable treatment and opportunities for everyone involved with Quinte Health Care.
It was given the Values in Action award Tuesday.
