Addressing inter-team communication has been a priority for the VA Provider Digital Health (DHC) Committee since its formation last year. One of its first projects—identifying what should be included in the Team Communication tool in Cerner—has now resulted in updated standards. These rolled out to providers at VGH and UBCH in mid-February. “The Team Communication initiative represents a collaborative effort between physicians, nursing, and allied health to create a more … Read More
VMDAS quarterly meeting report
Members gathered in person and online for VMDAS’s February 23rd quarterly meeting. This is the first meeting under a new format that will see themes and topics explored in depth. The focus this time: planning for a busier future with guest speakers Dr. Vinay Dhingra, Senior Medical Director, Vancouver Acute, Yasaman August, Executive Director, Clinical Operations, and Shelly Fleck, Operations Director, OR Slating and Booking, and Director, Strategic Initiatives, Vancouver … Read More
VA Provider Digital Health Committee – January meeting summary
The VA Provider Digital Health (DHC) Committee meets regularly; members work to identify Cerner changes that would be most helpful to providers. VPSA provides sessional funding to the nine physician representatives on the committee for time spent in meetings and doing other committee work. The following is a summary of the committee’s January 21st meeting. Associate Chief Medical Information Officer update Dr. Stephen Van Gaal updated committee members on the … Read More
Learning to protect yourself: A lesson in self-defence
Violence in the workplace is a concern of many members. Learning self-defence skills is one way to mitigate risk. To that end, VPSA recently hosted a self-defence workshop with members from a cross-section of departments taking part. VPSA Community Building and Wellness Task Group member Dr. Anna Borowska welcomed participants and introduced martial arts expert Master Michael Sirota. Under his guidance, the group learned some awareness and prevention strategies, basic … Read More
Dinner with Leaders summary: Reverend Dr. Doug Longstaffe leads with feeling
Physicians, Reverend Doug Longstaffe says, are foremostly trained in facts, philosophers in thoughts, and spiritual care professionals in feelings. His work—and that of the staff he leads as regional director of Spiritual Care and Multi-faith Services at VCH—blends facts, thoughts, and feelings as they work together in the crisis of illness. Doug was VPSA’s guest at its January Dinner with Leaders event, which was facilitated by Drs. Lucy Lyon and … Read More