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We are proud to support McMaster Children’s Hospital through our annual holiday campaign - George Soleas, President and CEO of the LCBO
In a significant stride towards enhancing physician training and fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in health care, McMaster Children's Hospital is proud to announce the opening of its Simulation, Resuscitation and Outreach Center (SiROC).
Generously funded by the LCBO, this revolutionary facility will play a pivotal role in helping McMaster Children’s Hospital respond to capacity, acuity and staffing challenges.
“We are proud to support McMaster Children’s Hospital through our annual holiday campaign, Give a Gift that Makes a Difference,” says George Soleas, President and CEO of the LCBO.
“It’s through the 8,000 passionate people who work at our LCBO stores across Ontario that we harness the generosity of our customers and give back to the communities where we live and work,” adds Lori-Ann Romano, the LCBO’s Regional Director.
The LCBO’s $530,000 investment in significant renovations and cutting-edge instructional equipment will expand the offerings and capacity of SiROC’s programming. This will empower more health care professionals across the region with life-saving training, knowledge and skills.
Enhanced Training Opportunities:
Renovations to a dedicated classroom space have facilitated an expansion of vital training opportunities for a greater number of frontline staff. The increased course offerings equip medical professionals with essential competencies to respond to urgent and emergent resuscitation needs.
“The reach is far greater than just [McMaster Children’s Hospital],” says Denise Johnson, Senior Manager of Patient Safety at the hospital.
Outreach training sessions have included community partners across the region. To date, SiROC has provided training to over 1,000 participants and the program is now being replicated in other hospitals across Canada.
State-of-the-Art Equipment:
The LCBO's funding has also purchased innovative teaching equipment, expanding the scope of simulation-based learning at McMaster Children's Hospital. These resources enable life-like simulations and hands-on practice that prepare staff to respond to critical medical situations. For example, staff can practice chest compressions with live feedback on the efficacy of their force and frequency.
The introduction of a dark-skinned child manikin is particularly noteworthy, as it allows staff to learn to recognize signs of distress – like bed sores – on dark skin thereby ensuring quality care for all patients. What’s more, it can simulate various medical conditions – like the sound of lungs with pneumonia – for a realistic training experience for health care providers.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration:
The SiROC program has fostered extensive partnership with the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit transport team. Weekly skills stations and simulations provide the team with valuable training opportunities, helping them hone their skills and prepare for certification exams.
“Ensuring good team dynamics is key,” affirms Dr. Shimaa Nassif, the outgoing SiROC program coordinator. This collaboration ensures a multidisciplinary approach, promoting teamwork and communication among health care professionals.
A Transformational Gift
Through high-quality equipment, increased course offerings, and collaborative initiatives, the LCBO’s gift will enhance the knowledge, abilities and confidence of medical professionals and have a lasting impact on pediatric health care across the Greater Hamilton Region.
“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities we get at Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation to connect passionate people with meaningful opportunities to make a difference in their community,” says Pearl Veenema, the Foundation’s CEO. “Together, we are unlocking new possibilities, reinforcing the vital role collaboration plays in delivering exceptional child and youth health care.”
