Governance & Strategy
Timely triage can be the difference between life and death
Multi-Level Governance
A multi-level governance approach is essential to support the successful implementation of a PDSA-driven solution focused on improving the utilization of existing Emergency Department initiatives. At the organizational level, hospital leadership supports the consistent application of workflows, performance monitoring, and staff engagement. At the regional and provincial levels, Alberta Health Services provides established initiatives such as real-time dashboards, the Emergency Strategic Clinical Network, and capacity escalation protocols. Rather than introducing new systems, the PDSA cycle is used to continuously evaluate and optimize how these existing initiatives are applied in practice. This ensures that governance structures at all levels support data-driven decision-making, accountability, and sustained improvements in patient flow and wait times for CTAS Level 3 patients.
Political Level
Sets health policy, funding, priorities, and system-wide performance expectations
Regional/Organization Level
Alberta Health Services coordinates hospital operations, capacity planning, and accountability
Hospital Leadership Level
Supports workflow re-design, staffing decisions, and quality improvement intitiatives
Clinical/Frontline Level
Applies triage protocols, monitors patients, and uses digital tools in practice
Triage delays are not caused by a single issue — they result from gaps in coordination across all levels of governance.
Values
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Patient-Centered Care – Prioritizing patient safety, dignity, and timely access to care
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Efficiency – Reducing delays through streamlined workflows and smart use of technology
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Collaboration – Promoting teamwork across clinical and administrative staff
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Equity – Ensuring fair and consistent triage for all patients
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Innovation – Leveraging data and digital tools to improve decision-making
Vision
Our vision is to create a responsive, efficient, and patient-centered emergency department at Grey Nuns Community Hospital where triage processes support timely care for all patients. By integrating technology with clinical workflows, we aim to reduce delays and improve outcomes for CTAS Level 3 patients presenting with chest pain.