2018 BC Health Care Awards Recipients Revealed

VANCOUVER - Recipients of the 12th annual   Wound Care and  BC Health Care Awards were announced today at a gala luncheon in Vancouver. Twelve Gold Apple and six Award of Merit recipients were honoured.

Presented by the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC), the awards recognize British Columbians who are providing outstanding care and support. Awards are given in 11 categories to projects improving delivery through innovative and collaborative approaches and to people making a positive impact and inspiring those around them.

"BC's medical professionals - including support staff - genuinely care about delivering quality care to British Columbians," said Michael McMillan, HEABC's President and CEO. "The BCHC Awards are an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the individual and team contributions made by these individuals."

New this year - Dianna Mah-Jones Award of Excellence in Person-Centred Care

Named in honour of Dianna Mah-Jones, this award is for a team or project that makes use of leading practices to improve care for patients, residents or clients by focusing on the needs of the person rather than the needs of the system or service. Dianna Mah-Jones, an occupational therapist at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, was tragically killed, along with her husband Richard Jones, just three months after being named Provincial HC Hero at the 2017 awards. Our hope is that this ward will help to keep her memory and legacy alive by recognizing others who strive to deliver care that is respectful of the needs, values and preferences of individuals.

2018 Gold Apple winners

Provincial HC Hero & HC Hero - Provincial Health Services Authority

Glenn Braithwaite - District Supervisor, Emergency Coordinator, BCEHS

Glenn Jay Braithwaite is a Paramedic and District Supervisor at BC Ambulance Service, recognized for providing exceptional emergency response and for his clinical leadership abilities. He's received several professional accolades for his heroic actions, and his outstanding commitment to patients, colleagues and the broader community.

Provincial HC Hero & HC Hero - Island Health

Dr. Ramm Hering - Physician Lead, Primary Care Substance Use, Island Health

By passionately and effectively advocating for improved services for patients dealing with substance use and addiction, Dr. Hering has inspired his colleagues to work together to develop new programs and create an efficient, client-centred system of addiction services.

HC Hero - Affiliate

Dr. David Agulnik- Emergency Physician, St. Paul's Hospital

HC Hero - Fraser Health

Mits Miyata - Pharmacy Manager, Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services

HC Hero - Interior Health

Lynda Martyn - Registered Speech-Language Pathologist, Coordinator Kelowna Cleft Lip/Palate Clinic

HC Hero - Northern Health

Debbie Strang - Health Services Administrator, Quesnel

HC Hero - Provincial Health Services Authority

Dr. Faisal Khosa - Associate Professor, Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital

Dianna Mah-Jones Award of Excellence in Person-Centred Care

International Seating Symposium - Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, Provincial Health Services Authority

The International Seating Symposium has created an international forum that fosters an exchange of ideas and a network of consumers, rehabilitation therapists, physicians, designers, and manufacturers of positioning and mobility equipment. This has inspired improvements in rehabilitation equipment and technology that have improved mobility, comfort and quality of life for people with disabilities.

Dianna Mah-Jones Award of Excellence in Person-Centred Care

Residential Care for Me: Megamorphosis - Seniors Care and Palliative Services, Providence

The goal of Residential Care for Me: Megamorphosis is to change the residential care culture from an institutional to a social model of care, and improve quality of life for residents by rapidly testing and implementing changes that focus on emotional connections, allow residents to direct each moment, and create the feeling of home.

Top Innovation

SNIFF: C. Difficile Canine Scent Detection Program - Vancouver Coastal Health

An innovative and dedicated team of people and a growing roster of pups known as the C. Difficile Scent Detection Program is pioneering a cost-effective method to improve and enhance C. Difficile surveillance and improve infection control and prevention practices.

Workplace Health Innovation

VGH Emergency Department Healthy Workplace Initiative - Vancouver Coastal Health

Vancouver General Hospital's emergency department formed a multi-disciplinary team with the goal of working together to improve workplace health and safety, leading to an improved working climate where staff report feeling engaged and better able to provide the type of quality care that emergency patients deserve.