Do you have an idea for how to improve care within the hospital? Want to pick an Island Health colleague’s brain to get their perspective? You might want to take advantage of the new South Island project ‘Walk a Doc’. Initiated by Dr. Jason Wale, this project aims to create informal opportunities for engagement between clinicians and Island Health administrators, promoting connection and physical exercise in service of common goals.
Dr. Wale went on the inaugural walk with his Island Health colleague, Dr. Kristine Votova, PhD, Director, Medical Staff Quality, Analytics & Clinical Improvement a few weeks ago. They clocked some kilometers, dodged sprinklers, picked blackberries, and most importantly, shared some thoughts around the idea for a Quality Improvement ‘gainsharing’ proposal that Dr. Wale and Dr. Jeff Kerrie have been considering for the past few months.
Speaking about the experience, Dr. Wale described specific and pragmatic advice that Dr. Votova was able to offer for this initiative, including engaging with the right people across the health authority, and external stakeholders, and doing so early on. Both agreed that the walk had given them new ideas and strategies to pursue in the future.
For anyone who is interested in going on a Walk a Doc, please contact South Island MSA Project Manager Clara Rubincam at info@southislandmsa.ca with a brief description of your idea and your proposed walk partner. If you don’t know with whom to connect at Island Health, we can help! Sessional compensation is available for all physicians involved.