Many of us know little about the work done in other departments and divisions. We tend to operate in silos, but our work can benefit from knowing more about what is happening in other areas. To address this, VA’s Manager, Provider Strategic Initiatives & Engagement, Laura Mc Evoy is working with various programs to highlight their work during VPSA’s monthly physician lunches. A PowerPoint presentation prepared by VCH’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program played in the background during the lineup for the May lunch. A summary of that presentation follows.
ASPIRES is the acronym for VCH’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme: Innovation, Research, Education, and Safety. Antimicrobial stewardship is the practice of using antimicrobials (antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals) appropriately for the treatment of infections; this involves selecting the right antimicrobial, dose, route, frequency and duration. ASPIRES launched in 2013, and is committed to strive for excellence, to cultivate innovation, and to improve patient care. More information is available on its website.
The ASPIRES team includes (some members pictured above from left to right) Dr. Ivy Chow (pharmacist), Meghan Watson-Donald (project manager), Dr. Shaqil Peermohamed (regional medical director), Dr. Tim Lau (pharmacy lead), and Dr. Rosanne Thalakada (pharmacist).
Firstline app
ASPIRES recently launched Firstline for VCH. Firstline is an antimicrobial stewardship app, which is customized with VCH’s infectious disease guidelines and antimicrobial dosing information. It is a primary source of local, up-to-date information. Users receive instant notifications on drug shortages and updated guidance. It is easily accessible at the point of care across all clinical settings. The app has approximately 1,000 unique users each month and about 100 accessions every day.
You can download the Firstline app here. Click “Select Location” and choose Vancouver Coastal Health. You will then be able to instantly access local, tailored guidance to optimize patient outcomes.
ASPIRES recognition
The ASPIRES team received an award through the CSHP-BC Pharmacy and Sustainable Environment Grant Competition and collaborated with a local artist, Pete Clarkson, to create an art instillation to raise awareness about the significant medical waste and associated carbon footprint generated from intravenous (IV) antimicrobials compared to their oral counterparts. ASPIRES also collaborated with the UBC Clean Energy Research Centre to calculate the carbon footprint of highly bioavailable antimicrobials when administered intravenously versus orally.
ASPIRES collaborated with a local company to create reusable wheat straw cutlery sets, which were given out as prizes during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week 2024 to raise awareness and promote switching from IV to oral antimicrobials when feasible.
ASPIRES was recognized by CASCADES during Pharmacy Appreciation Month on Recognizing Leadership in Pharmacy Sustainability for promoting climate resilient, low carbon and sustainable pharmacy and prescribing practices.
ASPIRES Coastal was also nominated for a oneVCH Award in the category of Achieving Better Results for the service provided through the Lions Gate Hospital Penicillin Allergy Clinic.
Meghan MacLaren, a UBC pharmacy student with ASPIRES, won the CSHP BC Branch Pharmacy Practice Poster Award (New Researcher Category) for an antimicrobial stewardship and planetary health project.
Upcoming lunch
VPSA’s next lunch at VGH will be Friday, June 13 from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm in the VMDAS Hub for Engagement and Wellness, next to Sassafras Café. The focus for that lunch is expected to be the tertiary mental health team from Willow. See you there!
If you are interested in your department/division/team being profiled at a future luncheon, please reach out to Laura Mc Evoy.