Quality Improvement
At St. Michael Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED), we are committed to driving world-class quality improvement, patient safety, and innovation that transforms emergency care. As a leading academic health centre, our work focuses on enhancing care for both patients and providers. The impact of our initiatives extends beyond our walls—contributing to advancement in the delivery of emergency department care across Canada and around the world.
Measuring and Improving Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation in the ED (MI-CARE)
This program is the first of its kind in Canada to establish a foundation for cardiac arrest quality improvement in the emergency department. By implementing structured data collection focused on CPR quality and cardiac arrest management, it aims to enhance care for cardiac arrest patients in the ED. Key components of the program include regular data debriefings, real-time CPR feedback, and the introduction of a dedicated CPR coach role.
Together, these elements form a scalable model that other EDs across the country can adopt to improve cardiac arrest outcomes.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Emergency Department Care (PROM-ED)
PROM-ED is a brief patient-reported outcome measure designed for emergency care, led by Dr. Samuel Vaillancourt.
Co-designed with patients, caregivers, and ED clinicians, it focuses on outcomes that matter after an ED visit:
- Symptom relief
- Confidence in understanding
- Clear plan for further care
- Reassurance
Built through qualitative interviews, cognitive testing, and pilot implementation, PROM-ED is:
- Plain-language and wording-light
- Flexible in follow-up timing
- Feasible in busy ED workflows
- Sensitive to change across common conditions
It complements process metrics like wait times by providing a patient-centred signal for quality improvement and research.
PROM-ED is now part of CIHR-funded multi-centre studies, piloted by the Health Quality Council of Alberta, and adapted for use in the UK, Chile, and with Francophone patients.
