Accreditation Canada recognizes Covenant Health's Mission Discernment Tool
Fall 2011
Accreditation Canada has named the Covenant Health Mission Discernment Tool as a Leading Practice for Canada.
The Mission Discernment Tool was developed by Gordon Self, Vice-President, Mission Ethics and Spirituality, as part of his doctoral work, with direct input from Covenant Health board, executive and other leaders. It is now an important resource in helping leaders and team members across Covenant Health make decisions that are aligned with our mission and values.
Each year, Accreditation Canada recognizes Leading Practices in Canadian organizations across the care continuum that are particularly innovative and cost-effective solutions to improve quality. Leading Practices are noteworthy examples of high-quality leadership and service delivery and are chosen for excellence in a specific field or for their contribution to health care as a whole.
Accreditation Canada's endorsement of the tool as a Leading Practice provides national exposure to our contributions and positions Covenant Health as a leader in values-based decision-making. More importantly, it provides our organization with greater opportunity to live our mission through the sharing of resources and expertise with other healthcare leaders who grapple with difficult healthcare decisions every day as they serve Canadians.
The Mission Discernment Tool—consisting of a guide book and a template that can be filled out electronically—has helped leaders and staff across Covenant Health make good decisions. A survey of the tool's effectiveness this year indicates that individuals and teams have used the process to grapple with major clinical, operational, and administrative issues. Covenant Health team members have also embraced the tool in less formal ways, finding it helpful for everyday reflection on our values.