Working through the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, a donor enabled the development of a new nursing model.
Barbara Grantham, CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, has worked in the philanthropic sector for over 20 years. In that time, she's noticed a major shift in the expectations and roles of major-gift donors.
"It used to be people cut a cheque and got on with their day," says Ms. Grantham. That money might have purchased useful diagnostic equipment, built surgical theatres or stocked a neonatal unit to the hilt. All good stuff, of course, but low on time commitment.
"Now, donors are keenly aware of the broader public policy challenges facing the health-care system in this country. They want to take part in helping the system become more nimble, more adaptable and more innovative," she says.
Here's an example: Traditionally, decisions in Canadian hospitals happen hierarchically, with suggestions slowly passing up and down the chain of command before making it into action on the ward. A British program, Releasing Time to Care, tried empowering nurses at the unit level to improve efficiency. Changes were minor – stocking certain supplies closer to beds – but greatly increased the time nurses could spend with each patient.
Canadian administrators and nurses tried the concept, but provincial funding covers the system as-is. It doesn't stretch far enough to cover trial and error. Here's where a major-gift giver with patience and foresight was essential.
The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, which raises money for Vancouver Coastal Health, had many conversations with a potential donor who also believed strongly in giving nurses more one-on-one time with patients. Designing, executing and assessing a new process to provincial satisfaction took nearly two years. This donor family, explains Ms. Grantham, stayed involved throughout discussions, eventually paying for the project to pilot in 15 B.C. sites. Two years later, this model, which showed fewer patient falls, faster and safer discharge, and higher levels of patient and employee satisfaction, has become the new standard.
"It's not bright and shiny," says Ms. Grantham. "It's just a change in how health authorities deliver care. But without those funds, it would take a very long time for the taxpayer-funded system to enable that kind of change."
Great ideas are born all the time, from the direct experiences of nurses and doctors or from the experiences of patients and their families. But with governments challenged to find money for unproven methods, those ideas and experiences tend to stay anecdotal. Philanthropists can provide that breathing room to try, without putting the current model at risk.
And despite everyone's belief that a better style of care is possible, exactly what that might be is tough to specify. It often boils down to a feeling that something could have gone better.
"Major-gift donors are looking for charitable organizations willing to have those very thoughtful, interesting conversations with them," says Ms. Grantham. "And VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is certainly willing to walk that road with them, to find those solutions that meet their goals and give better options to everyone."
This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.