February 23, 2010

RVH shares its experience in professional education

When Ontario health care professionals and educators gathered earlier this winter to discuss the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration, Renfrew Victoria Hospital was on hand to share the success of its inter professional education program.

RVH Physiotherapist Kim Dyer and Betty Cragg, assistant director of undergraduate programs at the University of Ottawa School of Nursing, led a presentation for about 50 participants at the Inter Professional Education conference in Toronto in January. Dyer leads an inter professional education program at RVH that unites representatives of the hospital’s various professions with students working in placements there. They meet weekly to discuss and learn from case studies and the issues they raise.

The RVH program is part of a rural education network established by the University of Ottawa. Renfrew was chosen as the second site to introduce the concept, because of the hospital’s reputation for valuing inter professional collaboration, the strong links between professions throughout the hospital, and the corporate willingness to be innovative.

Two years later, the RVH team’s work has been recognized as a model for professional peer education in a rural setting.

“The concept of collaboration has been around for a long time, but there is a growing realization that it must be nurtured,” says Dyer. “Renfrew Victoria Hospital is a leader in the collaborative model of care, and our patients benefit greatly from this.”

The conclusion of her presentation sums up the RVH experience: “Rural community hospitals are an excellent venue for inter professional education.”

The same message was delivered at the Ontario Hospital Association’s Health Care Expo in November, when the RVH team was selected from hundreds of applicants to host an exhibit booth in the category of “Innovations in Health Human Resources”.

Dyer points out that such presentations are a learning opportunity as well as a venue to share the local hospital’s success.

“The conference was an excellent opportunity to see what Ontario health care professionals in research, clinical settings and the Ministry of Health are doing to promote inter professional collaboration,” she says.

“Promoting skills such as effective communication and professionalism, and providing opportunities for team members to develop trust and respect for one another are key to a great health care system,” she adds. “When this exists, the patients of Ontario are well cared for and health care professionals have a great work environment.”

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(For more information contact Kim Dyer, Physiotherapist,
Renfrew Victoria Hospital, 613-432-4851, ext. 281.)