Thirteen special one-time projects, set to improve patient comfort and care, have received new funding through Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s (KHSC), Patient and Family-Centred Care (PFCC) Grant.
The grant is made possible through generous donations to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF), and supports projects and initiatives that improve the experience for patients and families at KHSC.
“A project is attractive to me if I can clearly see that it will add comfort and a sense of well-being to a patient or family’s experience. That sense of well-being may be physical, emotional, or spiritual comfort - or all three,” said Patti Cox, co-chair of the PFCC grant selection committee.
“I look for projects that will provide comfort, safety and information for patients experiencing physical and emotional distress,” added Sue Bedell, who also co-chairs the PFCC grant selection committee.
Teams at both the Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) and Kingston General Hospital (KGH) sites submitted applications that were reviewed by a committee of volunteer Patient Experience Advisors. A total of $10,000 was distributed through this year’s grant cycle.
Among the selected projects was a redesign of the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence (SADV) treatment room.
Nadia Weese, SADV program team lead, and registered nurse Gina Hovencamp identified the grant as an opportunity to improve the comfort of their patients.
“The SADV clinic supports patients of all ages who have experienced sexual abuse and/or intimate partner violence. Many arrive in acute distress and may carry past experiences that make trusting the healthcare system difficult. Unfortunately, the hospital setting can unintentionally amplify feelings of fear, anxiety and disempowerment,” she said.
“Through this project, we hope to create a space that feels calm and restorative, a place where patients feel respected, comfortable, safe and supported from the moment they walk in.”
The concept came about following feedback from patients and staff. The team worked together to identify practical changes that would fit the current clinic space and would have the greatest impact, ensuring the changes create a space that truly meets the needs of patients.
“A trauma-informed environment is more than aesthetics, it’s about emotional safety,” she said. “Updating the SADV clinic space will make it feel less clinical and more supportive, helping patients feel safe enough to share their experiences. Ultimately, we believe that it will support healing and enhance both the quality of care and overall patient experience.”
In addition to the SADV treatment room redesign, the committee also provided funding for medicine bundles for Indigenous patients, new children’s Koala change table for the ENT and audiology clinic at the Murray Building, an update to the Emergency Department family room, support for the KidsInclusive Empower Beads program, a school passport for children with congenital heart disease, and a refresh to the KidsInclusive waiting room. These projects will all be implemented over the next year.
Are you interested in learning more about KHSC’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)? Would you like to volunteer as a Patient Experience Advisor? Visit our webpage for more information.
