Celebrating one year of care at Park Place
QCH has been caring for patients at our Park Place offsite inpatient unit for one year! Through innovation and collaboration, the team has customized the care model for our geriatric population, adding more recreational and behavioural therapies for improved care. Since its opening one year ago, Park Place has had over 18,155 patient days. Together, they provide safe and nurturing care for a vulnerable population.
Looking back over a busy year, members of the Park Place team share their thoughts and photos.
In the above photos are: Gerry, who would always tell us how his 102-year-old mother-in-law could outshop him at the mall. When she would come visit he would always tell us how he would have to sit while she and his wife shopped. In the middle is Noel, our very own " King of Kensington", he was a character who liked to be where the action was. On the right is Mark, who loved to read. We would tease him that we were going to cut his "long locks" and he would always tell us no way!
Below are a few memorable moments from the team…
“Wow, it's hard to believe that it's already been almost a year since we moved to Park Place from the main site. Personally, I can't express enough how much I love working as a nurse here. It's incredibly fulfilling to be able to make a positive impact in the lives of our patients every single day. But it's not just the work that makes this place special, it's also the amazing team we have. Our colleagues are not just coworkers, they're like family, always supporting and uplifting one another. And let's not forget about our incredible manager, who leads with passion and dedication, creating a positive and nurturing work environment. Here's to many more years of making a difference and being a part of this wonderful team at Park Place!” – Kiran
“I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the team at Park Place — our shared accomplishments and the spirit of unity that has defined our first year here. When I was first hired as an SLP at QCH, Park Place was the unit where my journey began, and what a journey it has been! Park Place came with its unique set of challenges, mainly because it is physically separate from the hospital. Through every obstacle and triumph, we've grown and evolved together. From the BYOBowls, well attended huddles, team initiatives, and Jerome the Gnome, the bonds we've forged at Park Place are unbreakable. We've laughed together, supported each other, and, most importantly, provided the best care to our patients as a united front. It's an honor to be a part of this family, and I look forward to many more years of serving our patients and growing together!” – Sarah Howes, Speech-Language Pathologist
“It is hard to believe we are approaching the one-year anniversary of our move to Park Place from Fairfield. If you ask staff how this last year has been, the responses will vary. If you ask if we have a GREAT TEAM here, I think the answer will be yes. The creation of an ALC program offsite at Fairfield and the transition to Park Place was stressful for everyone involved.
Members of the D3 team who transitioned to Park Place may or may not have wanted to move offsite. For close knit teams, this move, and separation is essentially a loss. I feel lessons were learned that moving forward will be invaluable. Overall, the patients arrived safely and were welcomed by our amazing staff.
On October 12, 2022, we began a new chapter. After being in a nursing position for 27 years, I moved offsite to a new location. On Childbirth, we were a family. We celebrated together we cried together, and we were always there for each other. I wanted my new coworkers to feel that same way. Now I’m happy that I can use my nursing experience in my role as an ACC instead.
These past weeks and months have been a fluctuating wave of every emotion: happy, sad, fun, crazy, stressful, seemingly unbearable — but here we are. One year! And I LOVE coming to work. (This is a different answer than you would have gotten 260 days ago!)
I enjoy the work, our patients, and my coworkers. I will always miss where I was, and my friends. That is why I try and make each day here count, to bring laughter and fun to work every day.” – Kelly Keenan, ACC.