The projects of two fourth-year undergraduate students earned them a trip to Florida to learn more about quality improvement in health care.

The pair is in Orlando attending the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Annual Forum. They are among 6,000 health professionals from across the globe dedicated to effecting real change in health-care quality and safety.

Bianca Fucile and Sierra Barrett are each being recognized for their submissions which highlight engagement in the Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement Program (I-EQUIP).

Both Barrett and Fucile are stellar students who have demonstrated self-directed initiative to make sure their projects are successful, said Department of Health Sciences Associate Professor and Co-Director of I-EQUIP, Madelyn Law.

“Through their work on these projects, both students have been able to enhance their understanding of health system change and what it takes to make improvements while also helping to impact the health of people in Niagara.”

Fucile placed in the top four for her essay on her experiences in quality improvement from a student perspective. Fucile is attending the forum and is writing a blog about her work to be posted on the conference website.

“I am really honoured to be given this opportunity to expand my knowledge on quality improvement and to showcase my passion for patient-centred care and patient education,” says Fucile.

Fucile has been working with the Walker Family Cancer Centre to help improve patient information and education. Working closely with Charlene Dubilan, a Patient Education Specialist at the Niagara Health System (NHS), she has developed a co-design methodology to work with patients and health professionals to identify what they see as important initiatives to improve the patient experience with care. This is a patient-driven project designed to ensure a patient-centred approach.

Barrett is one of four students chosen in the international poster competition. This win allows her to attend the conference and participate on a panel with other students and faculty experts.

“I am excited to present the great work being done through I-EQUIP in front of an international audience. I hope this will help health professionals to learn how to engage students in the quality improvement of health care,” said Barrett

Barrett and her team are working on a project focusing on the implementation and evaluation of the Pediatric Rapid Assessment Clinic at the St. Catharines hospital in the NHS. Her team consists of Drs. Madan Roy and Rafi Setrak of the NHS and three medical students from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine- Niagara Regional Campus. Barrett’s role is to analyze real-time data, write reports, present findings to physicians and make recommendations about changes for improvements.

“On behalf of the Niagara Health System, I want to congratulate Sierra, Bianca and their teams for this incredible recognition,” said Linda Boich, NHS Vice-President Quality and Strategy, Mental Health and Addictions, and I-EQUIP co-director.

“Their contributions reflect the innovative work happening through I-EQUIP and illustrates our commitment to learning and quality improvement.”