Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) pre-designate facility
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) has selected the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) pre-designate. The hospital has committed to the RNAO partnership to become a BPSO® over the next three years. The contract was officially signed in February 2021.
The designation is an internationally recognized mark of excellence in health care and is targeted to support best practice guideline (BPG) implementation, rapid learning and evidence-based practice sustainability at the individual, organizational and health system levels to optimize clinical and health outcomes. BPSOs have been established across Ontario and throughout the world, in all sectors.
The hospital aims to enhance nursing care and sustain a culture of evidence-based nursing and management decision-making practices. Patient and family-centered care, falls prevention, and pressure ulcers are the three international Best Practice Guidelines (BPG’s) selected for the hospital over the next three years. The senior nursing leadership, clinical nurse educators, patient care leadership council, interprofessional team, and the national nursing council were a part of the BPG selection process. The selected areas align with the hospital’s strategic plan and quality improvement indicators.
The hospital proposal to the RNAO outlined several areas. These included the strategy to implement the necessary guidelines, the benefits for patients, providers, and the organization, and how clinical outcomes will be measured and evaluated. The hospital completed the orientation process in mid-February 2021 and is now required to submit an online report to the RNAO every six months and other responsibilities.
BPSO® is an opportunity for health service and academic organizations to formally partner with the RNAO to achieve the designation. Following the three years, the partnership can be renewed once the objectives are accomplished.
To learn more about the program, visit the RNAO’s website.
Other Awards/Designations
The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital has received several recognition and designations. Our mission is to ‘exceed expectations through our commitment to professional excellence, safety to all and continuous quality improvement.’
Here are some of our additional pursuits and achievements over the years.
RNAO GO CLEAR AWARD
InterHealth Canada – Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital has earned the GoClear Award™ – Gold Level for its achievement in the elimination of hazardous smoke during surgical procedures. The Go Clear Award is presented by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) to recognize health care facilities that have committed to practices that eliminate smoke caused by the use of lasers and electrosurgery devices during surgery. Gold level is the highest rank achievable under the program. To learn more about the program, visit the AORN’s website.
INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION DIAMOND
Accreditation is an independent assessment of a health care organization’s performance against recognized standards of best practice. The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital has been accredited at the Diamond level since March 2012. This is the highest level achievable with this internationally recognized accreditation body. The accreditation process is robust and we are proud of our achievement as one of the few accredited hospitals within the Caribbean. This reassessment is held every three years. To learn more about the program, visit the Accreditation Canada’s website.
BABY FRIENDLY
The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global effort launched by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1991 to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding. It aims to encourage hospitals to implement the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and to practice in accordance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. In 2016, a Pan American Health Organization representative conducted a consultation exercise in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The findings and recommendations were presented to TCI Healthcare Stakeholders as the first step towards becoming ‘Baby-Friendly’ certified. Efforts are ongoing to pursue this designation. To learn more about the program, visit UNICEF’s website.
AHA AUTHORIZED TRAINING CENTRE
The American Heart Association® (AHA) has established a network of AHA Training Centers to help deliver its educational courses & strengthen the Chain of Survival. The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is an authorized American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center and therefore provides multiple AHA courses such as Heart Saver and First Aid, BLS ACLS, PALS and PALS. To learn more about the program, visit AHA’s website.
TEACHING HOSPITAL STATUS
InterHealth Canada – Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital has been granted accreditation status from the University of the West Indies Caribbean Association of Medical Councils (C.A.M.C) to offer medical internships. The hospital is also licensed by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government Higher Education Board as a teaching hospital.