Promoting Resident-Centered Care through the Implementation of Best Practices: A System-Level Implementation Program

A system-level implementation strategy that supports the uptake, evaluation and sustainability of evidence-based practices within the long-term care sector is being led by a professional nursing association.  This work has been made possible through government supported dedicated funding  with the goal of supporting long-term care homes in implementing best practices and enhancing resident-centered, quality care.  The strategies utilized by the program assist the long-term care homes to not only leverage their efforts to meet provincially mandated programs in key practice areas such as falls prevention, wound care, continence and pain, but to enhance resident and family-centered care within the context of an evidence-based practice culture. The benefits of this initiative include enhanced quality care for residents and families; capacity building for staff, both regulated and unregulated, working in long-term care homes; promotion of interdisciplinary knowledge transfer; utilization of evidence-based decision making in professional practice; and, improvement in work environments. 

 The framework that informs this unique program includes six distinct strategies directed towards: raising awareness; engagement; capacity development; guideline implementation; integration and evaluation.   A team of registered nurses with expertise in long-term care and the care of older persons engage with long term care homes as Long-term Care Best Practice Coordinators.  They support the uptake of best practices within the long-term care homes at the individual, organizational and system levels through various evidence-based implementation strategies.  Capacity building strategies to support providers and organizations include site visits, practice consultation and facilitation, provision of educational programs to staff members and assistance with implementation of multiple best practice guidelines as part of a network of Spotlight Organizations.  Regionally, the LTC Best Practice Coordinators facilitate networks of key stakeholders and leaders within long-term care homes to share their successes and learn from each other through knowledge exchange opportunities.   Linkages to the  program mandate and other quality improvement initiatives are coordinated to ensure consistent messaging to the long-term care sector. Numerous evidence-based implementation resources have been developed and are disseminated widely to support the integration of evidence-based practice in the care of residents, and these resources have been accessed provincially, nationally and internationally.

 This presentation will share challenges, and key success stories of how the LTC Best Practices Program is impacting on the long-term care sector as it fosters the development of evidence informed practice and quality resident and family-centered care.