Accreditation Week is here, UHN's KITE Research opens its doors, and more (2024)

Good morning, TeamUHN!

It is a pleasure to connect with you across care, research, and education through this weekly CEO update – all in service of A Healthier World.

Key reminders and updates

• Welcome to Accreditation Week, an opportunity for TeamUHN to showcase the safe, compassionate, and high-quality care performed at UHN each day. I have full confidence that TeamUHN will be welcoming to our guests, Accreditation Canada Surveyors, and prepared to discuss UHN's ongoing journey of quality improvement in the clinical areas that we outlined in last week's message. Remember: in so many ways, Accreditation Week is no different than any other week – we always provide the best possible care to patients. Once again, we congratulate the UHN Accreditation Team, the Accreditation Leads (Site/Department, ROP, and Priority Process), and all TeamUHN members for the hard work to prepare for this week. On Friday, May 31 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Accreditation Canada Surveyors will share initial findings of the week. Questions? Contact accreditation@uhn.ca.
• Kudos to UHN's KITE Research Institute for letting visitors see incredible research in action on Saturday as part of the Doors Open event across Toronto. This annual event, organized by the City of Toronto, invites the general public to access unique venues in the city without a fee. Roughly 2,000 people visited KITE, located within Toronto Rehab, and toured the Challenging Environment Assessment Lab (CEAL), home to cutting-edge simulation laboratories used to test everything from footwear to pharmaceuticals. These facilities, such as WinterLab and DriverLab, allow researchers to recreate real-world conditions to help prevent falls and car accidents and to gather information to better support older persons. KITE scientists, staff, and trainees were also onsite to answer questions about the exciting research done at UHN each day. We congratulate KITE and all TeamUHN members who helped facilitate UHN's participation in this event and contributed to our mission to get as many people excited about science and research as possible.
• A UHN-developed tool to help Emergency Department physicians assess whether to admit or discharge a heart failure patient is now available in Epic in a Canadian first. The Emergency Heart Failure Mortality Risk Grade (EHMRG) calculator, created by UHN cardiologist Dr. Douglas Lee and validated in a clinical trial, estimates the risk of a heart failure patient dying within a week and over the course of 30 days, based on 13 key metrics calculated in the ED, such as blood pressure, potassium levels, and age. The EHMRG score complements the clinical judgement of physicians to ensure patients are receiving the best care and that hospital resources are being used most efficiently. "In the fast-paced environment of Emergency Departments, where decisions can mean the difference between life and death, the EHMRG score provides timely insights to help make the right decision," Dr. Lee told UHN News. This is another fine example of unleashing the power of technology and thinking differently to better serve patients. Learn more about this calculator at UHN News.
• Congratulations to the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine on 100 years of achievements in neurosurgery. This incredible milestone was marked last week with a scientific symposium and a gala recognizing how neurosurgery at U. of T. has evolved over the last century into one of the world's most prestigious neurosurgical training programs, shaping medical students into future leaders in this field. It was also a time to reflect on the pioneers of neurosurgery who, back in 1924, pressed on despite high mortality rates, heartache, and the technological limitations of the time to not only serve patients but blaze a trail for all who would follow. Over 100 years, this faculty has pioneered some of the most impressive advances in neurological research and clinical care, including deep brain stimulation for neurological disorders, laser ablation technology to target previously inoperable tumours, and remote surgeries via robotic technology. Congratulations to U. of T. and partner hospitals for this milestone. We look forward to all that we can accomplish together over the next 100 years!

Video of the Week

And now… our video of the week. This clip shines a light on Mark Gravoso, a registered nurse in General Internal Medicine at UHN's Toronto General Hospital, who has been described as "God's gift to his patients" and recently won two big accolades.

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Have a good week,

Kevin

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