At Runnymede Healthcare Centre, we find our strength in the uncommon thread that invisibly connects us all.
It is a thread that links each patient and staff member and which strengthens our ties to the community, our donors and healthcare partners.
Like the thread, each time we grow or add new programs and services for new kinds of patients, we become not only stronger but more resilient too.
As a community hospital that provides rehabilitation services, we treat patients with a range of complex conditions. We begin each day determined to outperform the last in terms of quality of care — mindful that we are answering a very real set of needs in the system.
It's all part of our vision of transforming healthcare together.
Our core commitment to quality and safety shapes everything we do as a community hospital and we are dedicated to keeping patients at the centre of our decision-making process.
We've worked diligently to deliver on provincial quality improvement benchmarks set by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC).
For 2015/2016, we can proudly share that Runnymede had a strong performance among our peers, by meeting or exceeding eight out of nine quality improvement targets.
We implement leading infection control practices to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff and volunteers.
For example, studies show that flu and related complications for patients are minimized with a program of effective vaccinations for staff and volunteers. In the 2015/2016 flu season, we achieved a staff and volunteer vaccination rate of 83% — the second highest for Greater Toronto Area (GTA) hospitals (compared to a median rate of 56%).
Falls are the leading cause of seniors' admission to acute care and can result in serious, long-lasting complications.
Runnymede successfully promotes low fall rates by helping patients build strength and stamina in clinical programs. We also conduct proactive patient assessments and take effective falls prevention precautions.
With a falls rate of 3.3% per quarter in 2015/2016, we strongly outperformed the average rate of 10.3% in the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (TC LHIN).
Our Low Tolerance Long Duration Rehabilitation (LTLD Rehab) program remains a vital bridge to home for patients recovering from surgery or other acute care treatment.
Since the program started in 2011, over 825 patients have transitioned back to the community after treatment, with an average hospital stay of just 56 days.
In addition to the celebration of our 70th anniversary, 2015 marked another pivotal milestone for Runnymede with the launch of Vision 2020: Redefining Possible. This five-year strategic plan sets out a revitalized mission for our hospital that is summed up in our new vision statement, transforming healthcare together.
We based the plan on insights and perspectives drawn from staff, patients, volunteers and the community itself. Building on our existing strengths, Vision 2020 looks forward to anticipate and address the future healthcare needs of the community.
Our strategic directions begin with you first — a commitment from all of us to deliver an exceptional patient experience by placing patients at the centre of their own care and decision-making. To put this plan into motion, we will drive innovation in rehabilitation and care for medically complex patients and beyond, with dedication to the highest standards in quality and safety.
*We invite you to explore the full details of our plan online at www.runnymedehc.ca.
The transformation of our healthcare model has already begun. Since opening our Low Tolerance Long Duration Rehabilitation (LTLD Rehab) program in 2011, the number of admissions to the hospital has leapt by a remarkable 67%.
To answer both the higher volume and demand for expanded skillsets in clinical care, we're making changes to our staffing and infrastructure.
For our staff, we are introducing new clinical team members called advanced practice nurses (APNs) who are qualified with a higher level of education. The APNs will lead a new nursing model of care, enabling Runnymede to better anticipate the changing needs of patients and the community.
We're also adding two new patient beds per floor to meet the surge in patient demand. By admitting more patients, we can do our part to help alleviate system pressures.
In 2015, we introduced a new intergenerational activation program — bringing in children from the junior kindergarten class at Humbercrest School once a month to visit older patients. The program has proved hugely successful — creating a link between generations as they participate together in shared activities.
Runnymede has effectively doubled the number of hours of activation therapy offered to patients, with programs extended to now include evenings and weekends. We are also looking into expanding additional therapy programs to meet our patients' needs. Today, more patients than ever before can access our programs and take advantage of the physical, social and intellectual benefits they offer.
Prioritizing staff wellness is another part of Runnymede's you first strategic direction. To deliver excellent healthcare, staff members need to be in top physical and mental condition, and it's in everybody's best interest. By providing resources to keep staff healthy, we also reduce sick days, which makes the hospital more efficient.
We plan to build on this success by introducing a string of new wellness initiatives such as exercise and smoking cessation programs — all with a view to help staff lead healthier lives and reduce time lost due to illness or injury.
In 2015, our pharmacy team developed a nationally recognized medication review program to ensure the safe administration of drugs to patients.
The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) recognized the program as a leading-edge practice and asked the team to share its initiative with peer hospitals at a national conference.
The purpose of the program is to keep the number of patients' medications down to a safe minimum. This increases safety by reducing the risk of injuries that are due to falls associated with over-medicating. The program also lowers the chance of drug interactions.
Our pharmacy team has partnered with students from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Pharmacy for this program. It's providing a great opportunity for the students to bring their skillsets to work at the hospital, while receiving a valuable real-world learning experience in return.
In 2015, we celebrated 70 years of outstanding care at Runnymede Healthcare Centre.
With this landmark anniversary behind us, Runnymede moves into a new era of transformation and growth with a renewed focus on the patient experience. Our strategic plan, Vision 2020, has officially been launched. We are guided by our new strategic directions, you first; lead innovation; access & support; and supporting transformation, which offer us a roadmap toward our vision of transforming healthcare together.
Our plan also includes a commitment to our staff. We will ensure they have the support they need to deliver an outstanding patient experience through investments in work-life balance, health and wellness promotion, in addition to opportunities for professional development.
We are working with the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network to obtain an official designation as a rehabilitation hospital. This designation allows us to expand upon the type of rehabilitation that we offer for inpatients and outpatients, addressing a pressing need in the local community as well as system pressures.
As we continue to evolve and grow we will remain committed, as ever, to fiscal accountability. In Ontario, hospitals are required to demonstrate their ability to operate efficiently to obtain an annual increase in funding. Our hospital continues to maintain a balanced budget and 2015/2016 was no different. We also operated below the expected cost per patient demonstrating once again, our commitment to spending taxpayer dollars responsibly.
Community partners continue to be one secret to our success. These key relationships support our hospital’s ability to provide new and enhanced programs such as our Low Tolerance Long Duration Rehab program which has admitted over 825 patients since it launched in 2011. Partnerships allow us to innovate and address the needs of potentially at risk patients and underserviced populations, while operating as a key system player and easing the burden of other hospitals and healthcare providers.
All that we accomplish would not be possible without our generous donors. We are grateful for your vision and support as we work to fulfill our mission. We would also like to offer our sincere thanks for the exceptional oversight provided by the Chair of our Board of Directors, John O'Dwyer as well as the entire board; Chief of Medical Staff, Dr. Stephen Ng, and our tireless team of physicians; the senior leadership team; the dedicated staff and volunteers; our healthcare partners across Toronto; ICARE Gala Co-Chairs John Aquino and Sam Ciccolini; and our community supporters. It is with the backing of all of these devoted partners that we are able to continue our pursuit of excellence.
As we face new realities in the healthcare sector, Runnymede is well-positioned to ensure an incredible patient experience, increased access to our services, and a bright future as a healthcare leader.
Connie Dejak
President & Chief Executive Officer
At Runnymede, everything we do revolves around providing an exceptional patient experience. President and Chief Executive Officer, Connie Dejak describes our signature approach as more than simply healthcare: "The patient experience is a culture, a philosophy — a way of life."
Deeply committed to improvement, every year we conduct a satisfaction survey to hear what patients and families think about their experience at Runnymede. In 2016, we are rolling out an additional survey to get even faster real-time feedback from patients and families, just two weeks after admission. It's all about keeping us responsive to patients' needs.
Runnymede's patient satisfaction scores for 2015 were phenomenal. Almost all criteria improved over scores from 2014 and were consistently above peer hospital averages:
Runnymede's family satisfaction scores for 2015 surpassed most of the hospital's already-high scores from 2014 and outperformed peer benchmarks for nearly all criteria.
Runnymede is enriched by volunteers of all ages and backgrounds who come in from the community to help in many roles. Volunteers support our interprofessional teams across the organization and help deliver patient programs for various therapies.
Starting in summer 2016, our Summer Youth Volunteer Program is a fresh idea designed for high school and university age students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. For the student volunteers, it's a valuable opportunity to participate in real-world job shadowing. Everybody wins as the program serves as a mutually beneficial partnership where students learn about new career paths while Runnymede helps to motivate the next generation of potential healthcare workers.
Runnymede celebrated the 5th Annual ICARE Gala on October 16, 2015 — the eve of our 70th anniversary — and successfully raised over $220,000. This brought the total funds raised at ICARE Gala events to over $1.1 million. We are deeply appreciative of our sponsors, with special acknowledgement to John Aquino and Sam Ciccolini who, as our Gala Co-Chairs over the years, have worked tirelessly to help make Runnymede's vision a reality. Together they play a critical role in sustaining our culture of clinical excellence and patient-centred care.
* For information about how you can support Runnymede, please visit www.runnymedehc.ca/donate.
In 2016, we expect to receive an official rehab designation — a significant expansion of our current status as a provider of medically complex care.
The new designation comes with several benefits for the hospital, staff and patients alike. We will be in a position to provide enhanced outpatient services, expand allied health services like physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and offer other models of rehab care.
Runnymede participates in a series of partnerships that allow us to connect and contribute to the larger healthcare community.
For rehab patients, Runnymede is one vital step among many on the road to wellness. We are now offering enhanced rehabilitation for patients recovering from severe stroke through the Innovative Journey for Stroke Recovery Program, as part of a collaboration with Trillium Health Partners. Our goal is to provide less intense rehab earlier in the recovery journey and slowly build it up as the patient's tolerance increases.
Runnymede is also concerned with the quality of care that patients receive once they leave the hospital. Thanks to a new partnership with the West GTA Stroke Network, we can ensure that stroke patients in the region receive excellent support from dedicated therapists helping to guide their recovery. This program creates a transitional bridge from discharge to home — with the goal of supporting the best possible patient outcomes.
Runnymede Healthcare Centre owes its voice to an award-winning communications department. In 2015, we launched an unprecedented public awareness campaign to celebrate our 70th anniversary and were recognized by major healthcare public relations associations for outstanding communications.
When it comes to sustainability, Runnymede is serious about advancing best practices and contributing to the greater health of our community.
Our hospital is right on the leading edge of waste reduction with our new liquid food composter, which turns food waste into water that is safe for disposal. This process not only reduces the amount of solid waste going to landfill, it results in long-term cost savings for Runnymede.
This year has been a busy and exciting period at Runnymede Healthcare Centre.
As a board, we work constantly to build on and improve our governance practices. Best practices at the board level foster accountability, better support management and enhance oversight of the hospital as a whole. We have taken strides to ensure that we continue to move forward and navigate the rapid changes occurring throughout the healthcare system.
This year we have implemented a new standing committee devoted to strategic planning. After a lengthy consultation process and robust board involvement, Runnymede's strategic plan, Vision 2020, is becoming a part of the day-to-day fabric of Runnymede and is setting a clear path for the future.
The hospital proudly celebrated two milestones this year - our 70th anniversary and our 5th ICARE Gala. This year at our gala we came together as a community to support the outstanding work of the hospital, and to recognize the broad changes that Runnymede has undergone over the last 70 years. Thank you to all of our generous volunteers and supporters for contributing to our worthy cause.
I would personally like to offer my thanks and appreciation to the Board of Directors for their dedication to Runnymede and for offering their valuable time and expertise in supporting the hospital.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to recognize and thank Connie Dejak, our President and Chief Executive Officer. Connie remains an exemplary leader, focused on both big-picture growth and the fine details of providing top-notch patient care.
As well, thank you to Dr. Stephen Ng, our Chief of Medical Staff. Stephen continues to lead by example, guiding the medical staff and our clinical team to ensure that our patients reach their best possible outcomes while maintaining a high quality of life.
We are excited as we look forward to our brighter future.
John O'Dwyer
Chair, Board Of Directors
The following charts show the sources of revenue and distribution of expenses for Runnymede Healthcare Centre (presented in thousands). Audited financial statements as at March 31, 2016 are available upon request by contacting 416-762-7316 or emailing communications@runnymedehc.ca.
Revenues by source
Health expenses by type
Net bottom line
The hospital allocation of the province's health budget is based on the expected cost per day, as determined by the government. When a hospital operates below its expected cost, it is considered efficient and receives increased proportionate funding for patients.
*Patients may have more than one diagnosis
Total energy saved in 2015/16: enough to power 28 average Canadian homes for a year
Total tonnes of greehouse gas emissions saved
Total recycled waste: equal to conserving 610 trees, or 532,610 litres of water, or 70 cubic metres of landfill space
Runnymede Healthcare Centre is a registered charity.
Charitable Business Number: 107941015RR0001
Runnymede Healthcare Centre
625 Runnymede Road
Toronto, Ontario M6S 3A3
416 762 7316
416 762 3836
communications@runnymedehc.ca
www.runnymedehc.ca
