QCH showcased for innovative work in geriatrics

Photo of Kimberly LeBlanc, President of the Canadian Nurses Association, with Mélissa Laroche, Geriatrics Advanced Practice Nurse at QCH.

Photo of Mélissa Laroche, Geriatrics Advanced Practice Nurse at QCH, at the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association (CGNA) Conference in Winnipeg.

Mélissa Laroche, Geriatrics Advanced Practice Nurse at QCH, presented two podium presentations at the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association (CGNA) Conference in Winnipeg, showcasing innovative geriatric work being done at QCH, including:

• The introduction of a provincial toolkit developed through the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) Leadership Collaborative to reduce physical restraints in acute care hospitals.

• Dementia care innovation in our Emergency Department, highlighting the success of the Behaviour Support Registered Nurse (BSRN) role and our groundbreaking dementia education program for new ED nurses that was launched in September 2024.

Kimberly LeBlanc, President of the Canadian Nurses Association, attended and promoted both talks, calling QCH the “GEM of Ottawa” and spreading the word about our geriatric program across Ontario.

Congratulations, Mélissa! Thank you for your leadership!