2019 has been a particular busy year for Kensington’s Quality Team, which includes Darla Matheson, Director of Quality and Risk (right), Ana Paula Anjos, Manager of Quality  (middle), and Gemerdine (Gem) Maravilla, Quality Coordinator (left).

In September, Kensington Health was one of three finalists for the Workplace of the Year award presented by the Ontario Long Term Care Association. The award is presented to a home member that demonstrates staff engagement, recognition and positive work place culture. 

But, where do you start when it comes to a positive work place culture? A culture of quality is when employees feel quality all around them, see others take quality-focused action and hear others talk about quality. Building a culture of quality starts with experiences, your experiences foster your beliefs, your beliefs influence your actions, your actions impact your outcomes and results.

For example, when a new employee sits in a meeting where no one exchanges ideas or suggestions, or even worse, when they witness a leader shutting down or dismissing anyone who brings up an improvement suggestions or idea, their experience shapes their beliefs. They feel that it's not safe to make suggestions and that suggestions are not welcomed by leadership. That new view shapes their actions, and ultimately the outcomes.  

“You can sense passion in people, you can feel when leaders are receptive and welcoming.  When employees see their leaders take actions with a quality focus, it inspires them to also do better.” says Ana Paula

Gem has witnessed some inefficiencies throughout her experiences with the healthcare system, which inspired her to make a difference through her work in quality improvement.

“If there is an opportunity to make something easier, quicker and more enjoyable, why not try?” says Gem.

A culture of quality happens when your experiences foster your beliefs, your beliefs influence your actions, and your actions produces outcomes/ results.

Quality Engagement Committee

The Quality Team formed a Quality Engagement Committee that meets monthly with representatives from all of Kensington Health’s programs.

“Quality is a different way of thinking and therefore we want to ensure knowledge and understanding is common throughout Kensington. We want to cultivate quality champions at Kensington who will serve as ambassadors for quality improvement,” says Darla.

The purpose is to provide opportunities to connect and collaborate on quality improvement initiatives, learn from each other and share in each other’s successes and challenges. . Through this committee, the quality team hopes to continue to support and promote a culture of quality.

If you’re interested in joining the Quality Engagement Committee, e-mail Gem at gmaravilla@kensingtonhealth.org

Third Annual Quality Day

Quality Day is an annual event at Kensington where we aim to empower our people, celebrate our successes and share lessons learned from our quality efforts. 

This year’s Quality Day is on Thursday October 24. Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you’re a resident, patient, volunteer, staff or family member.

We have lots in store including special guest speaker, Dr. Zayna Khayat, Future Strategist at SE Health, as well as a poster display and panel presentation.