Celebrating the 2024/2025 Quality and Person-Centred Care Partnership Award Winner

At Lakeridge Health, our commitment to person-centred care shapes how we work, how we care, and how we build trust. It’s more than a principle – it’s the foundation of how we honour the voices of patients and families at every stage of their care journey.

Each year, the Quality and Person-Centred Care Partnership Award recognizes a project that brings this commitment to life in remarkable ways. It celebrates teams who turn care into connection, information into empowerment, and change into meaningful dialogue.

We are proud to share that the Diagnostic Imaging team has been selected as the 2024/2025 winner for their Radiation Shielding Practice Change project – transforming a routine clinical update into a thoughtful, transparent, and trust-building experience for patients.

For decades, lead shielding during X-rays has been a familiar part of the care experience – a long-standing safety practice trusted by both patients and providers. However, as new federal guidelines and scientific evidence emerged, it became clear that shielding is no longer necessary in most cases – and in some situations, it may even impact image quality. This shift raised an important and sensitive question: How do we support patients in feeling confident and safe when a familiar part of their care is changing?

That’s where the ingenuity and compassion of the Radiation Shielding Practice Change team came into focus. Led by Charge Radiology Technologist Jennifer Steininger, Administrative Assistant Jennifer Meier, and Patient and Family Advisors Dave Mortimer and Stan Phillips, the team understood that updating clinical guidelines was only the first step – they also needed to change how this information was shared with patients.

They worked together to co-design clear, accessible educational tools – from posters to handouts – with real input from patients and families. The result? Reassuring, easy-to-understand messaging that speaks directly to the people receiving care.

Why This Project Stood Out 

• Inclusivity: All materials were designed at a Grade 5 reading level and included visuals that reflect the diversity of our community – ensuring accessibility for everyone.
• Innovation: Rethinking a decades-old practice based on the latest science isn’t easy. It takes courage, curiosity, and commitment.
• Compassion: The team prioritized easing anxiety by addressing common questions and fears head-on, making the transition smoother for everyone involved.

Honourable Mentions: Celebrating Excellence Across Our Teams 

While the Radiation Shielding Practice Change project earned this year’s top honour, the submissions we received were full of creativity, compassion, and person-centred thinking. We’re pleased to recognize three exceptional projects with honourable mentions:

• Lakeridge Gardens Director of Nursing and Personal Care Jeanette Dindial and the Resident and Family Council
  For launching the Essential Partner-in-Care program, strengthening family involvement in long-term care.
• Mental Health and Addictions Team
  For their “Together, Best Mental Health” initiative – creating a more supportive and seamless experience for clients and patients.
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA) and Emergency Department Teams
  For advancing culturally safe care through Sickle Cell Disease education and support, enhancing patient experiences.

A big thank you to everyone who submitted nominations this year. Your stories show that person-centred care isn’t a goal for someday – it’s something we’re building together, every day.