Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging
In the past year, Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) has made substantial progress in honouring our commitment to address discrimination and inequities within our healthcare system and our community. We believe that everyone deserves access to culturally safe and accessible healthcare, regardless of their background or identity. Our journey toward Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) has been one of humility, learning, and genuine connection.
Last year saw the launch of our comprehensive 5-year EDIB Strategy, laying out our roadmap for the future. Additionally, we established the Advisory Council, led by our co-chairs Dr. Andrew Falconer and Marcie Patterson, RN. The Council includes dedicated leaders and influencers from across the organization, including physicians, front-line staff, leadership, and patients. It will provide invaluable guidance and support in driving our EDIB roadmap forward. Serving as a voice for under-represented groups, they ensure that all perspectives are heard and valued, championing initiatives that create a more welcoming environment.
Advancing Indigenous Health Equity & Engagement
QCH is committed to building and strengthening relationships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous communities to learn, grow, and together, improve health outcomes. This year, our Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team engaged in meaningful conversations and learning sessions, including the Wabano-Win Indigenous Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism Training. These experiences have opened our eyes to the critical importance of building relationships where Indigenous communities feel safe, respected, and supported.
To support this commitment, we developed a new land and territorial acknowledgment protocol, which we have now implemented across the organization. We also established foundational relationships with the Ottawa Aboriginal Council and Wabano Centre for Indigenous Health as part of our involvement in the Share Your Story (SYS) regional Community of Practice. Together, we're compiling a collaborative approach to building partnerships, engagement.
Advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB)
Leadership and Board Initiatives:
Our Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors are deeply committed to advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB), recognizing its critical importance in shaping a just and equitable healthcare environment. For more details, please see the Board’s report in the 2023/24 Annual Report.
Embedding EDIB into all of our work:
We are near the beginning of a multi-year journey and long-term commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Each year we’ll take more steps towards our goals. Additional steps this year included:
Specialized training on 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion to frontline staff, ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills to provide equitable care to all patients.
Training for the social work department on inclusive language and practices.
Management training on trauma-informed debriefing, integrating EDIB considerations to enhance support for diverse staff members.
Integrated EDIB considerations into various organizational policies, including the Mixed Gender-Bed Assignment Policy, Code Yellow Policy, Accessibility Policy, and Crisis Intervention Policy, among others.
Reflecting on the past year, we approach our journey toward health equity with humility and gratitude. We recognize that this is an ongoing effort, and we are dedicated to continuing this work with sincerity. Together, we are cultivating a hospital environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued—because that’s what true equity and belonging looks like.