A Message from the CEO
Like every car ride with my kids, I find myself looking around and asking: “Are we there yet?” It’s been three years since we launched SWITCH BC and as I look back with pride at those formative years, I find myself thinking (almost daily) how soon can we make a difference in the lives of health workers?
And I’m so excited to say this year that we are.
We have launched the OHS Resource Centre in partnership with Providence Health Care, BC Nurses’ Union, Hospital Employees’ Union, BC General Employees’ Union, and Health Sciences Association. The OHS Resource Centre is a digital meeting management tool that supports the excellent work of Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees in healthcare. To support the launch, we developed implementation and change management plans, communications and engagement plans, we’ve created multi-modal learning materials including video tutorials and searchable step-by-step guides – all so busy committee members can self-direct their learning and return to our site as needed when new questions arise. From day one, we’ve continued to enhance both the platform and our implementation services through feedback and collaboration with early adopters. More health organizations and health authorities will be introducing the platform this coming year, including Vancouver Coastal Health, Island Health, and Interior Health.
Our community physician program is complete, and we’ve already expanded implementation beyond the commitment we made with our partners, Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health. The program includes a web portal where physicians and staff have all the tools they need to build and maintain a health and safety program unique to their clinics, free clinic assessments and/or consultations with health and safety advisors, and a digital guide that details their legislative and regulatory requirements. The response from clinics across the province has been overwhelmingly positive, with a 96% satisfaction rating. Our staff are privileged to be contributing to alleviating some of the business burden that physicians and their staff in community face, while enhancing a culture of health and safety in clinics across B.C.
Violence at work continues to be a critical health and safety issue. Our updated violence prevention program introduces more real-work scenarios to address risk reduction, de-escalate issues, and better support health workers. The eLearning modules, the first part of the refreshed Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum, are being piloted and tested now for a summer 2025 rollout. The modules will be available on SWITCH BC’s new learning management system, please look for them later this year. The second part of the refresh, facilitator led or in-person training, is being reviewed and validated by our partners and subject matter experts and will be available through health employers later in 2025.
Psychological injuries in healthcare continue to keep workers out of the workforce twice as long as physical injuries. This is arguably one of the most complex and urgent workplace needs to help address in healthcare. We have worked closely with our partners to create a value-add role for SWITCH BC that focuses on measurement and evaluation of current Physician Health and Safety initiatives in the health system, a standard approach to education and training, as well as tangible psychological health and safety resources for JOHS Committees.
The work is vitally important and the needs considerable. We want to move as quickly as possible, and we also want to make sure we live our core values of partnership and collaboration. The team and I have been inspired and motivated by the incredible work provided by OHS teams across B.C and we are so grateful for their passion and dedication to health, safety, and wellbeing for health care workers. I want to thank our Board for its clear and supportive direction, our Technical Advisory Committee and working/advisory groups for their sound advice and wisdom, and my team who continue to push hard for system improvements and innovations. A special thank you to all the health workers who have provided feedback on our work, who have been early adopters of our programs, and who continue to show up with professionalism and compassion for their patients and their colleagues.
In everything we do, and in the ways we work, SWITCH BC is committed to care for the people who care for us.
Victoria Schmid
SWITCH BC, CEO