Today managers and staff at Wedgewood Manor in Summerside, along with various health officials, are celebrating the implementation of their new Model of Care at their facility. Model of Care officially began at Wedgewood Manor on May 2.
Honourable Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Health and Wellness, acknowledges this important move forward for Wedgewood Manor, and the rest of the Province.
“Model of Care is part of a broader health strategy to improve the quality of care to Islanders and to acknowledge the skills of our health care providers by optimizing their roles, providing more time for them to do what they are trained and skilled to do. Everyone has been working hard together as a team in moving Model of Care ahead and I am very pleased with the progress.”
Keith Dewar, CEO of Health PEI, offers congratulations to the staff of Wedgewood and everyone involved in the Model of Care process. He says the development of Model of Care began on Prince Edward Island more than a year ago and he is delighted to see it being implemented.
“Model of Care represents an important building block in the move toward a sustainable health care system. In addition to ensuring that our health system can continue to deliver quality care efficiently, equitably and sustainably, a redesigned model of care will empower health care providers to work collaboratively to the full potential of their abilities and training.”
Model of Care refers to the way health care services are organized and delivered. Model of Care on Prince Edward Island was developed as a result of the findings of the 2008 Corpus Sanchez International (CSI) review of the health care system. It involves the development of a model of care that best meets the health needs of all Islanders while making the most effective use of our health care resources. With Model of Care, health care roles will be optimized so the patient or resident see the right person at the right time.
Prince Edward Island’s health system, like others across Canada, currently faces human resource shortages, increasing demands for services and rising health care costs, and will continue to face these challenges into the future.
Crystal Praught is the Director of Nursing for Wedgewood Manor and says she is very proud of her staff’s initiative and teamwork throughout the process.
“Our residents and their families are at the centre of care here at Wedgewood Manor. We are very happy that all our health care providers will be collaborating together in a more effective way that will result in better care for our residents. Our LPNs are excited that they now have the opportunity to use more of their skills and capabilities to care for the residents, and our RNs now can spend more time ensuring each resident’s overall care needs are being met.”
Wedgewood Manor is one of five Showcase Units across the Island chosen to implement Model of Care first. They include Queen Elizabeth Hospital Unit 3, Prince County Hospital Surgical/Restorative Unit, Kings County Memorial Hospital, Wedgewood Manor and Home Care program in Summerside.
Dewar also recognizes the hard work and efforts Physicians and staff put forth to date during the planning and implementation of Model of Care and as it continues to roll out across the province.
“Change is not always easy but the teamwork and positive attitude shown by everyone at Wedgewood Manor has allowed the process to implement Model of Care move along smoothly. The leadership shown by Prince Edward Island’s health care providers is very much appreciated as this new model of delivering health care services to Islanders moves forward.”