Posted: March 27, 2018

A group of staff throughout Grand River Hospital has won the organization’s latest team award of excellence for their work to source and install the most appropriate patient lifts in the hospital’s specialized mental health program at the Freeport Campus.

Lifts are essential in supporting patients in getting into or out of a bed, or moving a patient to maintain their health. The lifts are important for patient needs but also to prevent workplace injuries for care providers.

While the hospital has installed ceiling lifts throughout its care units, unique needs in specialized mental health required a team of experts to come together.

Award Of Excellence Specialized Mental Health Patient Lifts

Participants included those from specialized mental health, occupational health, employee health, planning, infection prevention and control, facilities development, maintenance as well as several external contractors. They developed new solutions that would work the best for patients and providers.

The group’s nominator recognized team members in the following ways:

Compassion: throughout the project, team members demonstrated outstanding compassion for patients and staff. The team kept in mind that a solution was needed that would improve the safety of staff, but was also safe and comfortable for our patients.

Collaboration: this multi-disciplinary team has been wonderfully collaborative on all aspects of this project. Regular planning meetings have been held, site visits were completed, and the team worked together to identify the best patient handling solution for the special patient population.

Positive attitude: the team has not allowed itself to be overcome by obstacles, and has approached problems in a positive and flexible manner. Team members have been supportive and enthusiastic about the project.

Professionalism: team members have excelled at being on time for meetings, raising concerns/issues in a professional manner and promptly following up on any “homework” in between meetings.

Respect: at meetings and during all interactions with each other, team members have been extraordinarily respectful of each other. Concerns and questions raised have been carefully listened to, and appropriate steps have been identified and taken to address or resolve the concerns.

Thank you to this unique team for supporting the needs of patients and care providers.