recognizing staff, volunteers, and physicians. (Photo courtesy of CKHA via Twitter)
For the first time since before the pandemic, staff at Chatham-Kent’s hospital have been given the chance to use their creativity to benefit patients, families and their fellow colleagues.
Staff at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) submitted several ideas to the WeRCKHA staff engagement council in February, for a chance to have their ideas funded through the CKHA Innovation Grants.
“This is something that I really cherish at CKHA,” said Lori Marshall, CKHA’s president and CEO. “It is something we implemented a few years ago to truly give staff, physicians, volunteers and patient advisors an opportunity to bring forward their great ideas about how we can make changes at CKHA.”
Members of the engagement council voted on the ideas and seven were recently selected to receive grants of $1,000.
Another nine ideas were submitted for $10,000 grants, including two applications from the hospital’s CK Ontario Health Team partners. Of those ideas, two were funded through other means and five were chosen to receive the $10,000 grants.
“I am always amazed at the level of creativity that people come forward with in presenting their ideas,” said Marshall. “I’m really excited to see these great ideas come to fruition.”
The ideas chosen for grant funding included Portable BiPAPs for non-invasive ventilation therapy, functional electrical stimulation to treat foot drop, a Phantom Blue IV Training Block to access and improve skills for infant and pediatric patients, and the development of a program designed to support trans and gender diverse individuals.