Good afternoon, TeamUHN!
It is a pleasure to connect with you across care, research, and education through this weekly CEO update – all in service of A Healthier World.
Key reminders and updates
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Project Agile goes live today. UHN's business transformation has arrived. For more than a year, hundreds of TeamUHN members have been involved in implementing a gold-standard software platform to power UHN's needs now, and into the future. As one of only a handful of hospitals in the world to adopt the scale and scope of our SAP S/4HANA and Ariba installation, UHN will now benefit from sophisticated data gathering and analytics, financial forecasting tools, and critical support for our new in-house procurement and supply chain team. An organization of our size and strength requires business processes that can power our growth and enable innovation. Our new systems will allow us to capitalize on UHN's strength in the global marketplace, making it more possible than ever before to ensure we get what we need, when we need it, on the most competitive terms. I want to thank the entire Project Agile team, led by two of our extraordinary leaders, Darlene Dasent, EVP and CFO, and Dr. Sarah Muttitt, VP and CIO. Coming so quickly on the heels of both the pandemic and our Epic transformation, this Project Agile team, mostly comprised of our Finance and Digital colleagues, deserve a heartfelt thank you for their tremendous efforts, all in service of A Healthier World.
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Today, Altum Health went live on Epic! Expanding the use of Epic at UHN, the powerful health information system has been further configured for Altum Health to use at its 13 clinics across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The configuration meets the unique billing and workflow needs of Altum and gives Altum clients visibility to their appointments and health information using myUHN Patient Portal. With this expanded use of Epic, UHN is the first hospital network in Canada to use Epic for complex outpatient rehabilitation on a large scale. This is an exciting milestone transforming digital health delivery, streamlining operations and improving the client experience at Altum clinics. Learn more about Altum Health
here.
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UHN's Board of Trustees met on November 28. In brief, the Board received details on UHN's Q2 financial position and preliminary operating and capital plans for the 2024/25 fiscal year. The Board engaged in discussion related to ongoing quality and safety initiatives, with a focus on how UHN is actively working to reduce incidents of workplace violence. On the Research front, the Board received an update on exciting commercialization ventures underway at UHN. Cyber security is a top enterprise risk that is monitored by the Board, and following the Board meeting, trustees and the executive team engaged in a mock cyber incident tabletop exercise.
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Do you know how to call 5555 from a mobile phone? If you ever need to activate an emergency code (see the back of your ID badge for the list of codes) from your cell phone, you can save precious time by adding the number to your Contacts. I've already done that and I encourage you to do the same. Here are the steps provided by the Emergency Preparedness team.
- Go to your Contacts App
- Add Name (e.g. UHN 5555)
- For staff at Princess Margaret/Toronto General/Toronto Western/ Krembil Discovery Tower: Enter 416-340-4800,5555#
- For Toronto Rehab-University Centre/Rumsey Centre/Lyndhurst Centre/Bickle Centre: Enter 416-597-3422,5555#.
Putting a comma after the main line and a pound sign (#) after the 5555 will connect you with the 5555 operator. If you are not located at one of the sites listed above, follow site-specific procedures or dial 911 for immediate response.
Learn more about Emergency Preparedness (Corporate Intranet > Emergency Preparedness).
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A new tool from the University of Toronto researchers highlights areas in Canadian cities where a higher proportion of vulnerable populations live in less healthy environments. The Healthyplan.City tool is the first in Canada to map how dozens of environmental indicators, including air quality and access to community amenities, affect vulnerable populations in more than 125 cities across the country. This data helps to show where investments could spur healthier cities that are more equitable and sustainable. Explore the Healthyplan.City tool online.
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It was wonderful to see the launch last week of Canada's new 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline, which connects people with suicide prevention services via call or text. Anyone who calls or texts 9-8-8 will reach a responder who will listen and provide confidential support, toll free. The lines are open 24/7, each day. As the holiday season approaches, many Canadians may feel heightened stress, depression, loneliness, and other mental health struggles. This tool will help prevent suicides and save lives by reminding those who are struggling that they are not alone and that they are valued. Visit
988.ca to learn more.
Closing Notes
A reminder to consider donating to the United Way Greater Toronto's 2023 campaign to end poverty and ensure vital support is available for thousands of people across the Greater Toronto Area. Today is the official kick-off of the Employee and Physician United Way Workplace Campaign at UHN, which will run from Dec. 4 to 15. Visit the donation page
here or by clicking on the image below. At UHN, we know that housing is health and that addressing social determinants of health, such as food security, is crucial to our vision of A Healthier World. UHN's Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine is proud to partner with UWGT and the City of Toronto on a first-of-its-kind-in-Canada supportive housing project in the Parkdale neighbourhood, which will provide safe, affordable housing for 51 people from historically marginalized groups who frequently use hospital services. Learn more about this exciting project and our efforts to treat homelessness in this
recent Toronto Star story.
December 3 was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which urged that we reflect on the rights and dignity of all persons with disabilities. One billion people around the world live with a disability, including more than six million in Canada, and many continue to face systemic discrimination and barriers to full inclusion in society. Persons with disabilities, whether visible or non-visible, often incur additional expenses and often confront obstacles to employment. At UHN, we are grateful for the Accessibility Advisory Council (AAC), a group of TeamUHN members, Patient Partners, and persons with disabilities who work to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to care, services, work, and learning. Learn more about the AAC in
UHN News and contact
accessibility@uhn.ca for more.
And now… our video of the week. This
clip shines a light on UHN's invaluable Physician Assistants.
Feedback?
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Have a good week,
Kevin
