Quality and Patient Safety

Quinte Health is dedicated to the delivery of high-quality, safe and reliable care to the patients and families we serve. We are accountable for and committed to providing care and services to our patients whereby:

1. Patient care is provided in the safest environments possible that reduce the likelihood of errors or harm.
2. The care we provide is evidence-based and exemplifies the most effective use of knowledge and resources.
3. Access to care is both timely and efficient to support patients in maintaining their optimal health.
4. Patients are partners with us in their care through effective communication and respect for individual choices.

Quality Improvement Plan

Quinte Health 2023/24 Quality Improvement Plan

Quinte Health 2023/24 Quality Improvement Work Plan

Progress Report for the 2022/23 Quality Improvement Plan

Everyone has a Role in Patient Safety

Patients and families are partners in the delivery of quality patient care and have an important role to play in patient safety.

Your Health Care - Be Involved

The Ontario Hospital Association has created five common-sense patient safety tips to help patients make informed decisions about your health care:  

1. Be involved in your health care. Speak up if you have questions or concerns about your care.
2. Tell a member of your health care team about your past illnesses and your current health condition.
3. Bring all of your medicines with you when you go to the hospital or to a medical appointment.
4. Tell a member of your health care team if you have ever had an allergic or bad reaction to any medicine or food.
5. Make sure you know what to do when you go home from the hospital or from your medical appointment.

Visiting Policy

One of the best ways for visitors and family members to protect patients is the follow Quinte Health's visiting policy, which exists for the safety of all our patients and staff.

Just Clean Your Hands

The single most effective way to stop the spread of infections is good hand hygiene. After being one of 10 hospitals involved in the Just Clean Your Hands pilot project with the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Quinte Health's has expanded the program across the organization. It is designed to build a culture where infection prevention and control is everyone's business - staff physicians, patients and visitors. Click here to learn more about hand hygiene.
 

Infection Prevention and Control

An infection prevention and control program is extremely important to patient safety since the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria - MRSA, CPO and C. difficile - are a reality of health care delivery today. In recognition of this, Quinte Health uses aggressive infection control procedures, including:

• Heightened surveillance by front-line staff and physicians, coordinated by a dedicated infection control team;
• Increased frequency and intensity of cleaning in all patient care areas;
• Dedicated medical equipment, whenever possible, for patients who may have an infectious disease or be colonized with an antibiotic resistant bacteria;
• Cohorting of patients who have an infectious disease or are suspected to have one;
• A corporate-wide hand hygiene program;
• Increased education for staff, physicians, patients and their families; and
• Development of an antibiotic stewardship program to evaluate the appropriateness of antibiotic use.

For public reporting of Patient Safety Indicators in Ontario, visit Health Quality Ontario.