Health Standards Organization (HSO) proudly joined the November 21 event, “Quality in Focus: Shaping New Safety Strategies for Today’s Hospital Leaders,” hosted by the HARM-Evaluated Study at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. This gathering of Canada’s health care and academic leaders marked an important step toward enhancing hospital safety and quality through collaboration and evidence-based innovation.
The event featured a dynamic agenda of presentations and panel discussions, with HSO speakers playing a pivotal role in driving meaningful dialogue. Leslee Thompson, CEO of HSO and Accreditation Canada (AC), opened the day with an inspiring address on the evolving imperatives of leadership in health care quality. Drawing on the Health Quality 5.0 framework, which highlights the need to tackle pressing issues such as the health workforce crisis, fragmented care, climate change, health inequities, and avoidable harm, she emphasized the power of collaborative leadership in this era of personalization. She advocated for integrated, people-centred health systems built on co-creation and shared accountability to address these interconnected and complex challenges.
Lauryn Seguin, Specialist with HSO’s Patient Partnership Office, brought a deeply personal and impactful perspective to the conversation. Her talk, “People Powered Health in Action: Partnering with Patients for Safety,” highlighted the transformative power of engaging patients and caregivers as partners in safety, reinforcing the importance of overcoming traditional power dynamics and integrating patient knowledge into health care systems. Co-creation in this way is seen as essential for building resilient, high-performing health systems centred on patients’ needs and experiences.
HSO’s contributions extended directly to the HARM-Evaluated study, with Kyle Kemp, Director of Methods, Analytics & Reporting, presenting on the HSO Global Workforce Survey™ (GWS). Selected by HARM researchers for its robust ability to measure organizational safety culture, the GWS plays a key role in the study. Canadian hospitals participating in the HARM-Evaluated study can engage their workforce in the GWS and apply the results toward their Accreditation Canada status. Beyond assessing safety culture, the survey generates actionable insights to improve workforce well-being—a vital factor in driving patient safety.
The event culminated in a panel discussion, where HSO leaders joined other experts to explore emerging data from the HARM-Evaluated Study. Together, they underscored the importance of evidence-informed strategies for improving hospital operations and patient outcomes. This collaborative exchange of ideas reaffirmed the important role of standards and assessment programs as catalysts for improvement in this new era of health quality.
As proud partners of the HARM-Evaluated Study, HSO and AC continue to support Canadian hospitals in advancing patient safety and health care excellence. By sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and championing innovative solutions, we remain committed to our shared vision of safer care and a healthier world. To learn more about the HARM-Evaluated study, visit their website.