Pediatrics team reaches for S.T.A.R.

Health Sciences North has created and launched a new training program for all employees and physicians working in the Family and Child Program.

The S.T.A.R. (Safety, Teamwork, Attitude, Responsibility) Program is a three-year training initiative.

More than 100 hospital employees in the Family and Child Program will complete the training, including nurses, allied health professionals, administration and management staff.

Pediatricians working in the Family and Child Program will also complete the S.T.A.R. Program.

The S.T.A.R. Program curriculum was developed internally by staff at Health Sciences North, making it one of the only training programs of its kind in Ontario.

“As an academic health sciences centre, we place a high value on excellence in patient care, research, teaching, and learning,” said David McNeil, the hospital's vice-president of clinical programs.

“The S.T.A.R. Program exemplifies all these values. The program will enhance the care we provide, strengthen the skills and co-operation of our pediatric team, and provide us an opportunity to evaluate what we do.”

The S.T.A.R. Program has several key objectives:

-Enhance patient care and safety by standardizing the training, skills, protocols, and procedures of the multidisciplinary care team in the Family and Child Program.

-Foster clear communication and teamwork among members of the care team.

-Use interprofessional learning and evaluation to ensure best practices are implemented and maintained in the Family and Child Program.

“When you have all your care providers working together as one team, with shared skills and lines of communication, it not only improves care, but the experience for patients and their families by reducing their anxiety during a very sensitive time,” said Dr. Sean Murray, a pediatrician and medical director of the Family and Child Program.

“As a physician I’m honoured to take part in this initiative, and I know it will advance HSN’s Pediatric Centre of Excellence model for care.”

The S.T.A.R. Program is composed of three modules (one per year). Each module includes self-learning packages/curriculum, workshops, skills drills and tests.

“I’m very proud of HSN’s pediatric care team for demonstrating real leadership with this initiative,” said Kim Warren, administrative director of the Family and Child Program.

“It gives our clinical team members a great opportunity to broaden their skills, while enhancing patient care and safety.”