Building Culture
The leadership of Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and the QEII are committed to ensuring that the needs of patients, families, staff, volunteers and physicians are met. This includes acknowledging when experiences at the hospital are not positive, implementing processes to address challenges that are identified, and supporting the work of staff to improve culture.
A staff and physician survey launched in early 2021, followed by a series of virtual town hall sessions to discuss challenges and concerns. This led to the development of working groups comprised of staff and physicians, working together with site leadership, to better understand challenges and determine paths forward. The working groups have focused their efforts and suggestions around patient care, staffing resources and fatigue, cultural and psychological safety, leadership presence, and respectful workplaces and appreciation.
Grande Prairie was also the first site provincially to introduce a local Frontline Diversity & Inclusion Council in January 2021
Site leadership held its first Quality Meeting at the new site in February 2022, and also introduced a revised suggestion form for staff and physicians to submit new ideas and improvement initiatives.
A second pulse survey of staff and physicians – hosted in June of 2023 – showed significant increase in participation and improvements in staff experience.
A patient feedback project was initiated by one of the working groups in the spring of 2023, with the goal of identifying and addressing concerns in a timely manner while also sharing positive feedback with staff.
Leadership rounding continues regularly at GPRH. These sessions are intended to connect site leaders directly with patients to learn from their healthcare experience and determine potential areas for growth and improvement. Site leadership has also begun taking the same approach to get feedback from frontline staff about their workplace satisfaction.
A variety of professional and personal development events, as well as appreciation activities, have also taken place, including:
- In 2021 Workplace Health and Safety initiated a round of seminars available to all staff and physicians focused on creating safe, healthy and inclusive workspaces
- Family Fun at Muskoseepi Park - pool rental, BBQ, mini golf (summer 2023)
- Pancake Breakfast (summer 2023)
- Disney Institute sessions (fall 2023)
- A Culture Conversation on September 21, 2023 invited staff, physicians, leadership and volunteers to come together to encourage healing and put us all on a path forward towards positive growth.
- The installation of digital signage boards (TV screens) in staff area to increase information sharing
As additional professional and personal development events and appreciation activities are scheduled they will be highlighted here. We encourage staff, volunteers and physicians to comment or add their experiences to these posts.
