Good morning, 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

  • I'd like to begin with a message of thanks to every member of TeamUHN who worked in service of patients and their colleagues on Victoria Day. We are sincerely grateful for the many professionals who performed their duties over the long weekend so that UHN could deliver top-quality care for patients.
  • With only two weeks left until UHN starts using the Epic health information system (HIS), there's a palpable mix of excitement and healthy nervousness in the air. Approximately 13,000 people have completed training and passed their End User Proficiency Assessments (EUPAs) and more will be trained before go-live on June 4. Individuals and teams are practicing their workflows in the Epic Playground, building their confidence. Administrative staff are already using Epic to schedule patient appointments, schedulable orders, and surgical cases that will occur on June 4 or later. The Epic Implementation Command Centre (EICC) — which includes the Epic Contact Centre — is up and running to support those administrative staff and systematically address issues as they arise. The Synapse project team continues to collaborate with operational stakeholders to close readiness gaps, improve floor support options, coordinate details for the work of moving inpatient and emergency department data into Epic (aka Cutover) starting June 1, and much more. As you've heard many times, Epic is a complex system, and implementing it in a complex environment like UHN is a tremendous challenge. Over the next two weeks, and then as we experience the go-live period, I ask us all to stay grounded in UHN values and focus on what is necessary for a safe and effective transition to Epic:
    • Treat each other with respect and civility. Everyone is experiencing a high amount of change and uncertainty at a rapid pace. Remaining kind and compassionate helps reduce stress and maintain focus on critical work, including patient care.
    • You cannot gain access to Epic without completing the required training, EUPA(s), and Login Lab. If you aren't yet registered for training, speak to your manager right away.
      • Login Labs ensure you have the correct user credentials by June 4. If you need help, there are daily virtual drop-in sessions, and, starting today, there are in-person booths at each site. Learn more here.
    • Spend time in the Playground to practice your workflows using after-class exercises or following along with demos found in the Resource Library.
    • Familiarize yourself with the resources on the Patient Experience page of the Synapse site, using them as needed when interacting with patients.
    • Attend or watch the replay of the UHN Open Forum on May 31 to learn more about support options and what to expect during go-live.
    • Leaders are expected to remain accessible to their teams to address concerns and remove barriers whenever possible.

    I will say again that things will not be perfect. There will be issues, but there are multiple mechanisms in place to help prevent issues from negatively impacting patient safety. I am confident that everything that needs to be in place for us to safely start using Epic is in place.

    Finally, be aware that the volume of emails about go-live will increase. I know that it can be overwhelming to receive many messages from different groups within the Synapse project as well as operational leaders. Combining information into single messages is decreasingly possible due to the level of detail necessary for some messages, varying audience needs, and the speed at which the information needs to be shared. Further, many messages will be reinforced more "locally" by directors and managers – via email, huddles, and meetings – to help make sure critical information is absorbed and understood.
  • Congratulations to Anet Julius, Director of Professional Practice, Princess Margaret, for her having climbed to Mount Everest Base Camp last month to raise money for cancer research. Anet made the incredible, exhausting trek to Nepal's south base camp, at an altitude of 5,364 metres, to benefit the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (gynecological cancer research) and Radiating Hope (Kathmandu Cancer Centre). The journey required physical, emotional, and psychological resilience, with unpredictable weather, shortness of breath, and altitude-related headaches and nausea. At the top, Anet tied prayer flags to honour the patients she has had the privilege of caring for and who contributed to her journey. Those flags will eventually unravel and blow away in the strong mountain winds. She also proudly waved the UHN flag while taking in the beauty of the Himalayas. Anet has already raised more than $16,000 but hopes to raise $20,222. If you'd like to donate to her climb for cancer, you can do so right here. You can read more about her journey in an upcoming UHN News story. Congratulations Anet! We are all so proud of you!

What happened at the Executive Leadership Forum meeting

UHN's Executive Leadership Forum (ELF) represents a broad range of voices and skill sets from across the organization and provides direction and oversight in service of patients, TeamUHN and our vision of A Healthier World. See the full membership on UHN.ca. The last ELF meeting was held on Thursday, May 19.

2022/2023 Capital Plan

  • Background and why this was brought to ELF: The group sought ELF's endorsement of the 2022/2023 Capital Plan, which seeks to ensure that long-term financial stability is not impacted by short-term decisions and that major projects align with UHN's strategic priorities. As with past years, requests for capital related to equipment, technology, facility maintenance, and major capital projects were gathered from across the organization. The group said the current plan reflects consideration of such factors as resource capacity, immediate needs, external factors such as supply chain issues, alignment to capital funding principles, and affordability.
  • Who Presented? Darlene Dasent (Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer), Kelly Enair (Deputy Chief Financial Officer), Ron Swail (Vice President, Facilities Management – Planning, Redevelopment & Operations)
  • What do I need to know: The Capital Plan received ELF's endorsement and praise for the level of collaboration between FM-PRO and Finance. Projects will be prioritized in several different ways, with multi-year projects that are already in place continuing, and projects that are critical for safety, continued operations, or code compliance identified as the next highest priority. Clinical equipment, medical imaging equipment, capital renewal, and digital projects will be funded through net depreciation, while major capital projects will be funded through ministry funds, the Foundations and external grants, the line of business margin, or debt. Going forward, the group will review the remaining projects to highlight the crucial ones and confirm funding sources. An updated list of capital projects will be ready by June 2022.

Closing Notes

May is Brain Tumour Awareness Month. There are 120 different types of brain tumours, of which a third are cancerous. Glioblastoma is the most common, and most aggressive, type of malignant brain tumour. Krembil Brain Institute and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre are leaders in the field of brain cancer, with specialized clinics and a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to advancing research and care for patients. One recent innovation is the development of a blood test to detect and diagnose brain cancer, a collaboration between Dr. Daniel De Carvalho and Dr. Gelareh Zadeh, senior scientists at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Dr. Zadeh, who is also co-Director of Krembil Brain Institute, was recently featured on KBI's 'Your Complex Brain' podcast. Listen here

Applications for the Mohamed Ali Memorial Award, a new annual award for Environmental Services and Transportation staff across UHN sites, have officially opened. This award will go to one to three support services staff each year (up to $1,500 per person) for educational and professional development opportunities. It honours the memory of Mohamed Ali, a longtime member of the housekeeping staff who passed away in January 2021. The award was established through the generosity of the Ali family and donor philanthropy. Learn more about Mohamed Ali's legacy in this UHN News story. For more on eligibility and the application process, visit this website.

Feedback?

Your feedback is welcome and valued. Please reply directly to me or leave anonymous feedback here.

Have a good week,

Kevin

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