A local nursing home is starting Nurses Week off right by receiving a high honour from the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO).
Tilbury Manor has been designated as a "Best Practice Spotlight Organization" by the RNAO. The title is awarded to health-care and academic organizations that showcase the RNAO's best practice guidelines. Guidelines include best practices for things such as fall prevention, providing end of life care and pain management.
According to Sara Le-Ryan, director of care at Tilbury Manor, the long-term care facility implemented 19 best practice guidelines, going above and beyond the necessary three needed to be considered for designation.
"Tilbury Manor has far exceeded the expectations of the program and we're actually recognized as a centre for excellence. Implementing these kinds of best practice guidelines has helped us to reduce the amount of falls, reduce pain, reduce restraints and anti-psychotic usage to improve resident satisfaction and family satisfaction," explained Le-Ryan.
RNAO partnered with the ministry of long term care to develop the spotlight initiative as a way to provide support to organizations that agree to implement and evaluate RNAO best practice guidelines at their establishment. To get designated as a "Best Practice Spotlight Organization," a facility must submit a request for proposal showing that they are interested. It is then a three-year process where the RNAO ensures the facility is following guidelines and monitors their successes.
Le-Ryan said becoming designated is a way to help residents know that they are receiving top of the line care.
"They can be assured that the nurses are equipped with the proper knowledge and support in order to provide the best care and services," she said.
Tilbury Manor received their official designation during an RNAO ceremony in April. According to Le-Ryan, they are the only long-term care home in the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network who have successfully completed the full program and been awarded spotlight designation.
As a result of their designation, Tilbury Manor was invited to be a case study for the Transferring Nursing Through Knowledge textbook recently published by the RNAO.
"I am so thankful to be part of an amazing team and so proud to be a part of this team," said Le-Ryan. "The overall changes have been overwhelming and the residents and families are all so happy for all the care services provided."