Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital
Make Choosing Wisely a cornerstone of your quality improvement efforts and organizational strategy.
Unnecessary tests and treatments are not only potentially harmful to patients, but also consume precious hospital resources. Fortunately, there are known and effective ways to curb overuse and many hospitals across Canada have implemented these measures.
Choosing Wisely Canada’s Hospital Designation Program recognizes hospitals that take deliberate action to reduce overuse and demonstrate organizational commitment to minimizing waste and harm.
Hospitals can work towards achieving QI Status and/or Leadership Status designations. To qualify for each status, participating sites need to implement Choosing Wisely QI projects that earn credits towards designation.
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Actively undertake quality improvement efforts.
- Earn credits by:
- Becoming a Using Blood Wisely Hospital (Counts as two credits)
- Participating in Using Labs Wisely (Counts as two credits)
- Take on a self-directed Choosing Wisely QI project (Counts as one credit each)
- In addition to earning credits, hospitals will need to:
- Demonstrate sustained efforts and ongoing organizational commitment to Choosing Wisely at year 1 and year 2 post-designation, and every 2 years thereafter.
- Earn credits by:
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Actively undertake quality improvement and demonstrate organizational leadership.
- Earn credits by:
- Becoming a Using Blood Wisely Hospital (Counts as two credits)
- Participating in Using Labs Wisely (Counts as two credits)
- Take on a self-directed Choosing Wisely QI project (Counts as one credit each)
- In addition to earning credits, hospitals will need to:
- Integrate Choosing Wisely into the hospital’s operating/strategic plan
- Mentor another hospital to advance their Choosing Wisely improvement efforts.
- Demonstrate sustained efforts and ongoing organizational commitment to Choosing Wisely at year 1 and year 2 post-designation, and every 2 years thereafter.
- Earn credits by:
Sources:
About Choosing Wisely Canada
Choosing Wisely Canada is the national voice for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in health care. One of its important functions is to help clinicians and patients engage in conversations that lead to smart and effective care choices.
Need more information to help you get started?
Download our guide to learn more about the designation streams, how to get started, and how to apply.
Interested in becoming a Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital? Fill in this quick form to give us some baseline information about your hospital.
If your hospital has met designation requirements, you are eligible to become a Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital.
Gain national recognition for your quality improvement and leadership efforts by completing the designation application below. A member of our team will confirm your application.
Leadership Status
Niagara Health | William Osler Health System | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre | Sinai Health
Quality Improvement Status
Health Sciences Centre Eastern-Urban Zone Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services | Kingston Health Sciences Centre | Island Health
Need inspiration for your QI Status designation? We offer a suite of QI toolkits that package successful implementation intiatives to help you get started. You can also select from the over 400 campaign recommendations available.
Drop the Pre-Op
A toolkit for reducing unnecessary pre-operative testing.
Say Nay to the X-Ray
A toolkit for reducing ankle x-rays in low-risk ankle injuries.
Lose the Tube
A toolkit for appropriate use of urinary catheters in hospitals.
Less Sedatives for Your Relatives
A toolkit for reducing benzodiazepines and sedatives among adults in hospitals.
Q&A with Drs. Adina Weinerman and William Silverstein
Q&A with Drs. Adina Weinerman and William Silverstein on Sunnybrook's Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital Leadership Status designation.
Q&A with Dr. Saranya Arnoldo
Dr. Saranya Arnoldo shares what it means for Osler to be recognized as the first hospital in Canada to receive the Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital designation at the Leadership Status level.
Q&A with Dr. Mohammad Refaei
Choosing Wisely Canada caught up with Dr. Mohammad Refaei on what it means for Niagara Health to be recognized as a Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital at the Leadership Status level.
Health Sciences Centre Designated as a Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital
Health Sciences Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador has been designated as a Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital at the Quality Improvement Status.
Island Health Achieves Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital Quality Improvement Status
Celebrating Island Health’s commitment to increasing high-value care by taking deliberate steps to reduce overuse of tests and treatments.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Achieves Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital Leadership Status
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has been recognized as a Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital at the Leadership Status level — the highest achievement awarded under the national program
Two Ontario Health Systems Receive Choosing Wisely Canada’s Highest Honour
William Osler Health System and Niagara Health are first in Canada to receive Choosing Wisely Canada’s Leadership Status.