RNAO celebrates 19th-annual Best Practice Spotlight Organization Knowledge Exchange Symposium

Nurses and other care providers across the province and around the world will come together in London, Ontario on Nov. 20 to celebrate a global social movement dedicated to evidence-based practice.

The gathering is part of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) 19th-annual Best Practice Spotlight Organization Knowledge Exchange Symposium.

“We’re thrilled to welcome more than 100 provincial, national and international Best Practice Spotlight Organizations® (BPSO®) to hear how they are optimizing health outcomes across the system through evidence-based practice,” says Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO and founder of the program. “Together – through knowledge exchange – we’ll celebrate the many ways the program is impacting nursing and interprofessional teamwork, enriching their lived experiences and that of their patients.”

BPSOs sign agreements with RNAO to implement, evaluate and sustain multiple best practice guidelines (BPG). RNAO BPGs are evidence-based tools with recommendations for nurses, interprofessional health teams, educators, leaders and policymakers on how to improve outcomes for people and their support networks.

Exploring the theme Improving outcomes & advancing equity, diversity & inclusion, the event will include a variety of panel and knowledge exchange sessions on:

• creating innovative strategies to improve communication towards the person and their family
• improving skin-to-skin care in the delivery room as a precursor to early initiation of breastfeeding
• building inclusive health-care options for 2SLGBTQIA+ patients
• learning about the role of the Indigenous patient navigator at Southlake Hospital in Newmarket
• transitioning and integrating internationally educated nurses into practice and into acute care in Northwestern Ontario

“Starting with seven organizations in Ontario in 2003 and expanding globally, the BPSO program has grown into an international social movement of science. Now, there are BPSOs in all sectors and settings, including public health, primary care, hospitals, home care and long-term care homes dedicated to implementing evidence-based practices,” says Dr. Michelle Rey, director of RNAO’s International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Centre. “We look forward to seeing these BPSOs on Nov. 20 and inspiring others to partner with us in this dynamic and impactful social movement.”

Reporters who would like to interview an RNAO representative or attend all or a portion of the symposium can reach out to one of the contacts listed below.

What: The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario hosts its 19th-annual Best Practice Spotlight Organization Knowledge Exchange Symposium.

When: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET

Who:

• Dr. Karima Velji, chief of nursing and professional practice, and assistant deputy minister of health, Ministry of Health
• Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO and founder of the BPG and BPSO programs
• Dr. Michelle Rey, director, RNAO’s International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines (IABPG) Centre 
• Janet Chee, associate director of Guideline Implementation and Knowledge Transfer, RNAO’s IABPG Centre
• Nurses and other staff champions from 100 BPSO teams representing all health sectors across the province, country and around the world

Where: Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre Hotel in London, Ont.

RNAO’s Best Practice Guideline (BPG) Program is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health. It was envisioned by CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun in 1998 and launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across all health sectors and settings, with more than 50 guidelines developed to date. The Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) program supports health service and academic institutions that have formally agreed to implement multiple RNAO BPGs over a three-year period, and evaluate their impact on patients, organizations and health system outcomes. Launched in 2003, the BPSO program now has more than 1,500 BPSOs in Ontario, Canada and internationally.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses’ contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public we serve. For more information about RNAO, visit RNAO.ca or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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