May 08, 2023
On behalf of our staff, students, volunteers, clients and their families, please join me in honouring our nurses, personal support workers, physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants, speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The week of May 8 is National Nursing Week, May 19 is Personal Support Workers Day, and May is National Speech and Hearing Month and National Physiotherapy Month. This is an opportunity for us to reflect on and appreciate the leadership and commitment of these professionals and acknowledge their contributions in healthcare, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nursing
Baycrest’s 400+ nurses – registered nurses, registered practical nurses and nurse practitioners – play a significant role across our campus in a variety of settings (inpatient, residential, ambulatory, outreach, and virtual), and in their varied roles spanning clinical practice, education, research and administration. Nurses support the person, family or group with their physical, psychosocial, behavioural and personal care needs. The nurse is often the coordinator of care and a strong advocate for the individual and his/her family. The pandemic brought to light the courage and commitment that nurses exemplify every day and showed the important role that nurses play at Baycrest and in our community. Let’s commemorate Nursing Week with this year’s theme “Our Nurses, Our Future” celebrating the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s healthcare journey. As we recognize Nursing Week, we recognize the value and contribution of nurses and acknowledge the challenges brought about by the ongoing pandemic.
Personal Support Workers
Baycrest’s PSWs work collaboratively with nurses, physicians and other members of the healthcare team to deliver exceptional client care and contribute meaningfully to the client and family experience. PSWs play an integral part in promoting and maintaining a safe environment and enhancing the quality of life of residents, patients and their families. These dedicated staff members have gone above and beyond, like so many of their colleagues, during the challenges of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, the essential services provided by personal support workers have been instrumental in keeping our residents and patients safe and well cared for.
Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy Assistants
Physiotherapy is an essential component of recovery for our patients at Baycrest. You will find physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants across the continuum of care; from patient admission to our rehab and complex continuing care units, to facilitation of safe integration into the community setting. Our physiotherapy teams provide care by utilizing hands-on treatment, education and exercise prescription to empower patients to reduce pain, improve mobility and regain independence. This year, the focus is on the role of physiotherapy in non-pharmacological pain management and how physiotherapy professionals are acting as advocates for those with chronic pain; and the Ontario Physiotherapy Association will be posting member profiles and highlights on social media platforms. You do not need to be a physiotherapist to celebrate the profession! #WeArePT and #PhysiotherapyMatters are hashtags being used in this campaign to enhance awareness and to spread recognition.
Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists raise awareness about communication health, highlighting the importance of early detection and intervention of communication and swallowing disorders, and the role that these disciplines play in helping people to “Speak well. Hear well. Live well.” Audiologists optimize communication ability for clients with hearing loss by identifying, assessing, treating and rehabilitating hearing difficulties. Speech-language pathologists provide assessment and treatment of communication disorders as well as assessment, intervention and treatment of swallowing and disorders which impact swallowing. These disorders are common among older adults and our audiologists and speech-language pathologists play an important role in helping our clients to communicate effectively and eat safely, both at Baycrest and in our community. At Baycrest, SLPs and audiologists work as part of the interprofessional teams in both our ambulatory clinics and inpatient hospital units. They also contribute to education, research, innovation and professional development in their fields.
Please join us in recognizing these exceptional groups of professional staff for the tremendous role they play in the lives of those we serve each and every day.
Scott Ovenden
President and CEO, Baycrest Hospital and Long Term Care Home