LAMBTON COUNTY – June 24, 2025 – Bluewater Health and the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team were proud to welcome international nursing leaders last week as part of their shared work as Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO) through the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).
The delegates – two senior nursing executives from China – travelled to Sarnia-Lambton to observe how evidence-based Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) are being applied across hospital and community settings to improve health outcomes and experiences. The visit coincides with a major milestone for the region: the Sarnia-Lambton OHT was recently recognized as an official BPSO designate, joining a global network of health organizations, including Bluewater Health, committed to embedding evidence-informed practice into care delivery.
Awarded during RNAO’s 100th anniversary celebration and Annual General Meeting, the designation reflects the collective efforts of Sarnia-Lambton OHT partners – including Canadian Red Cross, Victorian Order of Nurses, Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent, North Lambton Community Health Centre, Bluewater Health, Sarnia-Lambton OHT staff, and patient/family advisors – to implement BPGs across the continuum of care. Since becoming a BPSO pre-designate in 2021, the Sarnia-Lambton OHT has focused on guidelines related to trauma-informed care, palliative care, transitions in care, and person- and family-centred care.
During last week’s visit, the delegates toured Bluewater Health departments where BPGs are actively in use – including Patient Experience Office, Mental Health & Addictions, the Rehabilitation Unit &Falls Prevention programming, the Hospital Elder Life Program, Intensive Care Unit, and Indigenous Navigation Services. They also explored Sarnia-Lambton OHT’s community-based initiatives, including the MobileCare unit and Community Health Integrated Care (CHIC) pilot, as well as participated in a panel discussion with the OHT’s BPSO Steering Committee members.
“We’re proud to share how evidence-based nursing practice is improving care for patients across Sarnia-Lambton,” says Jane Mathews, Chief Nursing Executive and VP at Bluewater Health. “From reducing falls and pressure injuries to ensuring culturally safe care for Indigenous patients, our teams have embraced RNAO’s Best Practice Guidelines in meaningful, measurable ways.”
Nadine Neve, Executive Lead of the Sarnia-Lambton OHT, adds: “Our approach is built on strong partnerships that span the hospital and community. Implementing BPGs allows us to deliver more equitable, integrated care – whether someone is receiving support in the community, at home, through mobile outreach, or in a hospital bed.”
The international delegation expressed appreciation for the collaborative spirit and dedication to quality that underpins the local BPSO journey.
“We are inspired by how Sarnia-Lambton is implementing best practice guidelines across the continuum of care,” said nursing leaders, Jing Ye and Jun Li, of Beijing. “This visit has provided valuable insights into applying evidence-based nursing in different cultural and health system contexts – and we look forward to bringing back our learnings to our own practice in Beijing.”
Bluewater Health was first designated as a BPSO in 2015. The Sarnia-Lambton OHT’s candidacy phase began in 2022, with designation being achieved May 2025, with Bluewater Health acting as a mentor throughout the process.
“This designation is a reflection of the strong collaboration and commitment to quality care across our local health system,” says Nadine Neve, Executive Lead of the Sarnia-Lambton OHT. “By embedding best practices into care delivery, we’re supporting better outcomes and a more connected experience for patients and families in Sarnia-Lambton.”
To support implementation, the Sarnia – Lambton OHT has created self-paced education modules, champion training, and regular progress check-ins across partner agencies – ensuring sustainability and shared accountability.
For more information, visit www.RNAO.ca/bpso or www.sarnialambtonoht.ca/bpso.