Photo caption: QCH President and CEO, Dr. Andrew Falconer (top left) and staff members participating in the Geriatric Interdisciplinary Skills Day.
By: Melissa Laroche, Advanced Practice Nurse in Geriatrics, Queensway Carleton Hospital
Older adults represent a growing and diverse population with unique health care needs, and Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) recognizes that providing safe, high-quality care requires not only clinical expertise but also collaboration, creativity and a patient-centered approach.
On March 19, 2025, QCH hosted its Geriatric Interdisciplinary Skills Day, a forward-thinking educational initiative that brought together over 250 staff members from across the hospital. The theme of the day highlighted the care continuum of older adults at QCH, beginning in the Emergency Department and extending through acute care, rehabilitation and discharge planning. This framework showcased how comprehensive geriatric care at QCH is embedded across all settings, ensuring safety, dignity, and quality outcomes for older adults.
The Geriatric Skills Day addressed a wide range of geriatric priorities through interactive learning stations that reflected how coordinated approaches across the patient journey strengthen the patient and family experience. Topics included delirium prevention and management, early mobilization, fall prevention, the impact of anticholinergic medications, behavioural response strategies for patients living with dementia, the use of person-centered language in communication, and more.
The day featured 22 diverse interdisciplinary experts, including pharmacists, registered dietitians, occupational therapists, rehabilitation assistants, patient care aides, speech-language pathologists, social workers, clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists, behaviour therapists and many more. By contributing their specialized expertise, these professionals demonstrated that meeting the complex needs of older adults requires a truly interdisciplinary, hospital-wide effort.
External partners also played a vital role. Ontario Health at Home, the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, and QCH’s Geriatric Day Hospital provided perspectives on community-based supports, emphasizing the importance of a seamless system of care that extends beyond hospital walls. Their involvement reinforced that improving care for seniors requires strong connections across the continuum of health and community services.
For health system partners, QCH’s initiative offers a blueprint. Large-scale, interdisciplinary education can transform not only hospital culture but also system integration. Best practices such as embedding geriatric content into all levels of care, leveraging community partnerships, and emphasizing practical, hands-on learning can be adapted to other hospitals seeking to enhance seniors’ care.
The day offered several important lessons and takeaways for both QCH and health system partners. First, it demonstrated that hospital-wide, interdisciplinary education can act as a catalyst for cultural change. By equipping staff at every level, from emergency physicians to patient care aides to environmental services, with geriatric-focused knowledge, the hospital fosters a shared sense of ownership in seniors’ care. This collective responsibility ensures that every interaction with an older adult is compassionate, informed, and respectful.
"At Queensway Carleton Hospital, we believe every interaction matters. Whether it’s a clinical decision, a reassuring word, or a helping hand, each moment shapes the patient journey. Our Geriatric Interdisciplinary Skills Day reflects this belief, showing that when every staff member is equipped with knowledge and compassion, every encounter with an older adult becomes an opportunity to make a difference,” said Dr. Andrew Falconer, President & CEO, Queensway Carleton Hospital.
Second, the event highlighted that innovation in seniors’ care is not limited to new technologies or clinical protocols. Innovation also comes from reimagining how teams work together. By breaking down silos and creating shared learning opportunities, QCH modeled how hospitals can redesign care to meet system challenges. For example, embedding delirium prevention strategies into daily practice not only reduces complications but also shortens hospital stays and improves patient and family experiences.
Finally, the event reinforced the critical role of community partnerships in shaping care transitions. Comprehensive geriatric care does not end at discharge. It requires strong, ongoing connections between hospitals and community providers. QCH’s Geriatric Skills Day illustrated how collaborative education and planning can improve continuity, reduce readmissions and support older adults in maintaining independence at home.
QCH’s Geriatric Interdisciplinary Skills Day is a clear example of hospital leadership driving innovation and redesigning care delivery. It illustrates how hospitals can create meaningful change by equipping their workforce with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to address system gaps. By doing so, QCH ensures better outcomes for seniors while fostering a culture of respect, dignity, and collaboration.