Tuesday, November 27, saw facilitators Miriam Stewart, chief clinical planning officer, St. Paul’s Redevelopment, and Elizabeth Stanger, corporate director, Care Delivery Integration & Transformation, spending the morning in the OR’s staff lunchroom for a come-and-go pop-up session (AKA: questions and candy) around our new strategic plan.

Operating Room staff were great to swing by, grab a chocolate or granola bar, and offer their thoughts on the big themes that will guide our organization’s work over the next 7 years.

Here are just a few* of the highlights:

  • Staff work as a team here – there’s not a lot of hierarchy between the team members whether it’s a nurse, surgeon, or porter.
  • It would be great to have more part-time positions for people who don’t want to work full-time; it would allow more flexibility, and would be a huge step in the right direction.
  • The environment is very welcoming — new people are shown a lot of patience and the teaching is constant. Surgeons maintain a good attitude to teach new people or help out those who are struggling. Staff in general is very willing to help one another out.
  • When planning the new St. Paul’s, input from clinical staff needs to be incorporated – not just asked for and then discarded. Something as minor as the height of a counter can make a huge difference.
  • I enjoy it here. Regardless of the task, I enjoy it because I like the people.
  • If it’s a good room and people feel appreciated, it’s easier to learn — you’re not worried about stepping on eggshells.
  • A friend just had surgery here and because of the very positive experience, she’s considering health care as a profession.
  • Team Leaders help staff and work directly in the room — in other places I’ve worked they’re doing paperwork and not connected to the work their staff are doing. It makes such a difference to have leadership be tapped into the work being done.

* Please note: this is a high-level summary; all sentiments discussed were fully captured by Elizabeth and Miriam!

This pop-up was part of a series of engagement activities happening across PHC where employees, patients, residents, family members, clinicians, researchers and volunteers are invited to weigh in on the creation of a new 7-year strategic plan (2019-2026) for the organization.

Have an idea you want heard? Head to Bloom to offer up your feedback and have your name entered to win some really great prizes (check out the list of what’s up for grabs!).

OR staff meeting