Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) is committed to making sure people have the best possible experiences every time they receive care and support services from its dedicated staff. Achieving a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO®) designation from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is one way in which KHSC strives for excellence and works to improve health outcomes for patients.
KHSC is an RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization
RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) designation is a longstanding knowledge translation strategy that helps optimize health outcomes at the individual, organizational and health system levels. This program’s strategic approach has been proven to trigger evidence-based culture, improve patient experience and health outcomes, lower cost of care by preventing complications, and enrich staff satisfaction. This program gives health services and academic organizations the opportunity to formally partner with RNAO, or an approved "Host" organization, to achieve “designation” as a BPSO. The BPSO designation can then be renewed every two years after meeting specific deliverables.
KHSC’s Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) site led the way to spotlight designation in April 2015, followed by the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) site in June 2023. Both HDH and KGH sites have systematically implemented a number of RNAO clinical best practice guidelines (BPG's) and continue to sustain them, while implementing new ones.
Being a spotlight organization offers KHSC an exciting opportunity to excel in evidence-based patient- and family-centered care with support from RNAO. We are committed to making sure people have the best possible experience every time they receive care and support services from our dedicated staff. Recognized worldwide, the BPSO designation means that an organization like KHSC has implemented best practice guidelines (BPGs) that have been evaluated and proven to have positive impacts on the care provided to patients and families.
Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are defined as systemically developed statements to assist healthcare practitioners and clients in making decisions related to an appropriate plan of care for specific clinical circumstances (Fields & Lohr, 1990 as cited in Brouwers, Stacey and O’Conner, 2009).
Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs)
Best Practice Guidelines use the highest quality evidence to support best practices in the delivery of care and promotion of healthy work environments. Process of Guideline Development (RNAO & International Affairs & Best Practice Guidelines, 2012).
- Panels
- Evidence
- Critical analysis
- Recommendations
- Stakeholder reviews
- Dissemination
- Evaluation
- Three-year review cycle
There are many sources for BPGs and as well, many different disciplines have their own i.e., Nursing, Infection Control, etc.
Although RNAO BPG’s are currently the main focus at KHSC, there are a number of other sources, Cochrane, deSouza, Joanna Briggs, to name a few.
BPGs implemented at KHSC
- Adult Asthma Care: Promoting Control of Asthma
- Assessment and Management of Pain
- Assessment and Management of Pressure Injuries for the Inter-professional Team
- Integrating Tobacco Interventions into Daily Practice
- Preventing Falls and Reducing Injury from Falls
In-progress BPGs at KHSC
- Delirium, Dementia & Depression in Older Adults: Assessment & Care
- Developing and Sustaining Nursing Leadership
