A Joint Message from Capital Health’s President & CEO and Board Chair

"This year, we received some of our highest praise yet from Accreditation Canada, which awarded us its highest rating: accredited with exemplary standing."

There are many reasons to celebrate Capital Health this year.

As Nova Scotia’s largest provider of health care services, we continued to operate our hospitals, health centres and community-based programs with pride, professionalism and passion.

Every once in a while, it’s particularly gratifying to have that pride validated and reinforced by an independent external body. This year, we received some of our highest praise yet from Accreditation Canada, which awarded us its highest rating: accredited with exemplary standing.

This rating is granted only to those health care organizations that not just meet but exceed the most rigorous requirements of its national program.

Surveyors were impressed by many things during their week-long visit in October 2013, including the alignment between our strategic plan, called Our Promise in Action, and our day-to-day actions; the multi-year business planning process; the leadership development program; innovative communications; our community focus; and our actively engaged employees and physicians.

Accreditation Canada also designated eight Capital Health initiatives as “leading practices.” The designation recognizes an innovation as an example of leadership in service delivery. The eight recognized include initiatives that seek to improve care in areas ranging from frailty and geriatric assessment to cardiovascular health, respiratory disease, hereditary aneurysm syndromes, and community-based wellness programs and engagement.

These achievements are only possible when an organization prepares and is ready for the needs of today and the needs of tomorrow. Our physicians and staff provide the best possible care while looking for better ways to do so.

This report looks at some examples of projects and ideas that focus on priorities for the future of care.

Despite earning Accreditation Canada’s highest rating, our commitment to quality and safe care does not stop. Accreditation is an important part of our quality process, and we know the work continues. Our quality teams, health care providers, physicians, leadership and support staff all continue to find new and better ways to deliver the best care.