Patient Safety Week: Introducing Gary the Patient Safety Shadow
They walk among us every day at outpatient clinics and occupy every hospital bed on all units. You’ve heard their engaged voices and seen the positive impact of their involvement in care. What you may not realize is that every patient and family member at St. Joe’s has it in them to be their very own safety superhero – and it’s our job to bring their voices to the forefront of care. It's Patient Safety Week at St. Joe's, read about one of our great initiatives dedicated to improving patient safety.
Gary Halyk describes himself as a true Hamiltonian who was born at St. Joe’s. After receiving surgery here later in life, Gary became an avid volunteer joining the various patient councils and committees we offer to members of our community.
While not every patient superhero joins the Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC), Gary has been a member for three years after reading about it in a local newspaper.
Gary recently joined a new patient engagement initiative called, Learning With and From One Another: Patients and Providers On the Same Improvement Path as part of the Patient Interviewing/Shadowing Sub-Committee.
Beginning in the Rehab Unit, the aim of this initiative is to help make a patient’s transition from the hospital to their home safer. Listening to patients and families experiences, the team creates an education plan using the teach back technique to deliver information. This helps patients and their families clearly understand discharge instructions and processes including post discharge follow-ups.
Gary “shadows” or closely follows a patient’s journey as they are being discharged, while observing conversations and processes. He describes it as, “a partnership between the patient, their nurse and myself to ensure patients feel confident and comfortable returning home.”
Further, with the supportive leadership from the Rehab Unit this initiative provides the opportunity to include patient’s feedback and observations in processes to enhance patient safety and continue providing the highest quality care. Upon reflecting, Gary explains that he “can see things from a patient’s perspective and help ensure processes are patient centric. It’s really about patients helping patients.”