Labour of love at CKHA churns out ideas and grants

Some very clever people at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) are getting the green light -- and some funding -- for their ideas to improve the hospital experience for patients and quality of work for employees.

CKHA CEO Lori Marshall said 12 innovation grants totaling $57,000 were recently received by CKHA and partners for various creative ideas.

Marshall said she is always amazed at the level of creativity brought forward for these one-time grants, which were handed out for the first time since 2020.

"This is something I really cherish at CKHA, " said Marshall. "It's something we implemented a few years ago to truly give staff, physicians, volunteers, and patient advisors the opportunity to bring forward their great ideas about how we can make changes."

The finalists presented their innovative ideas at the WeRCKHA staff engagement council's quarterly meeting in February and the ideas were then voted on by members of the council.

Seven innovations received $1,000 each this year and all of them received a grant. You can find those below:

$1,000 Recipients:

1. Recognition Cart – now being termed the “WHOOT WHOOT Wagon.” This cart of kindness, recognition and spirit will travel around the hospital randomly recognizing our staff, volunteers, and physicians. The applicant was Melissa Sorrell.
2. Geomatrix gel accessories for bed and wheelchair – a support to enable pressure redistribution and increase patient comfort and support, and reduce injury. The applicant was Becky Shea.
3. Indigenous Art for Wallaceburg and Chatham (this accounts for two different submissions); commission a local artist to enhance the physical space of the organization. This will “exemplify a culture of empathy, compassion, and inclusivity.” The applicant was Catherine Tyndall.
4. Comfortable chair for bedside Care Partners; given the importance of having family centred care and family support during the end-of-life experience, it’s meaningful for family members to remain comfortable during this transition. Family members will benefit from a comfortable recliner chair or cot to rest on. The applicant was Heather Thomas.
5. Art work for paediatric waiting room to create a cheery and calm environment for children waiting. The applicant was Juliette Bechard.
6. Gel surface for chairs to assist in patient comfort and well-being during dialysis treatments. The applicant was Lisa Broad.

Nine applications were submitted for the $10,000 grant idea category. Two of those were funded elsewhere, two were submitted from designated CK Ontario Health Team (CKOHT) partners, leaving five applications to be voted on by the board. Four of those five were selected to receive funding and include the following:

$10,000 grant Recipients:

• Portable BiPAPs to assist with patient flow within CKHA and enhanced care for patients. A BiPAP is a form of non-invasive ventilation therapy used to facilitate breathing. The applicants were Jaime Shields and Shelley Stroud.
• Functional Electrical Stimulation to treat foot drop. Functional Electrical Stimulation is a non-invasive alternative treatment for foot drop. Foot Drop occurs where there is weakness in the muscles or lack of voluntary control within the ankle and foot dorsiflexion, causing the toes to drag and the foot to drop during the normal gait pattern, greatly increasing the risk for falls. The applicant was Maureen McKerrall.
• Phantom Blue IV Training Block to access and improve skills for infant and paediatric patients. IV access is a critical bedside clinical skill for pediatricians and neonatal nurses. Obtaining IV access can be extremely challenging usually due to the side of available and visible vessels in very small, premature infants. This training block will provide an opportunity for staff education and will improve patient care. The applicant was Dr. Soliman.
• Development of a “Trans Health” program designed to support trans and gender diverse individuals ages 16 and up in Chatham-Kent and will work from a gender-affirming and informed consent approach. Services provided will include ongoing psychiatric care; physical health needs addressed with clinic Nurse Practitioner; surgery referrals; brief treatment therapy referrals; access to RAAM clinic and Withdrawal Management Services; Gender Journey Support Group; Trans Mental Health Hotline. The applicant was Dr. Rafiq.

One of the two applications that were submitted from CKOHT partners was also selected for a $10,000 grant -- you can find the information on that grant below:

• Subsidized respite care grant for the CK Ontario Health Team is for dementia appropriate patients to manage avoidable visits and admissions to CKHA.  Additional tools and resources will be provided to be better able to assess and treat clients that the Alzheimer’s Society of Chatham-Kent (ASCK) serves within the Chatham and Wallaceburg Day Programs, as well as the In-Home respite community clients, and will ensure ASCK is better equipped to help their client’s manage avoidable visits and admissions to hospital. The applicant was Brandon Ball of the Alzheimer Society of Chatham-Kent.