Project Details
About the Project
In early 2024, Dr. Matthew Moher saw an opportunity to improve the level of HIV screening at the Royal Jubilee Hospital Emergency Department to meet provincial recommendations. This project idea had broad support and as agreed by everyone, “it should be a real, standing thing.” Thanks to SIFEI funding, he was able to carve time out of his busy clinical schedule to make important connections and learn about the inner workings and complexities of Island Heath.
Unfortunately, just as he was launching this work the Electronic Health Record was going live at RJH. Understandably, the resulting burden of care falling on the emergency department meant that they did not have capacity to take on another change. Interestingly, the solution to Dr. Moher’s problem may be solved by the EHR implementation, though Dr. Moher hasn’t had the time or incentive to follow-up since the expiration of the SIFEI funds.
There are two notable, positive outcomes from this project:
- The initial trial of the project uncovered two new HIV diagnoses in a two-month period. It’s exciting to know that the proposed plan worked, though it’s disappointing to think of the missed diagnoses due to the lack of full implementation.
- Moher made important connections within the health authority for his clinical work, notably with Dr. Reka Gustafson and other Public Health physicians.
As noted by Dr. Moher, “we can’t have [innovative change] being on the side of one energetic physician’s desk; it needs to be incorporated in a flowing system.” We are so appreciative of Dr. Moher’s efforts and look forward to a time when he’s able to bring another life-changing quality improvement project to life!