The Ottawa-based DOC was responding to news that OMNI will soon be implementing communities of practice within three regional areas. She says when homes share what they know with each other, the results go far beyond OMNI’s walls and into other long-term care homes throughout the community. This is because frontline staff members often work for two or more different employers in the sector.

“Hopefully, other homes will identify their own specialities, too, and we can all borrow from each other,” she says.

Ferguson-McLaren says it will be important to think outside the box to see what’s working for other homes. “What are they doing that’s been working well? What’s working for us? These are things we can all benefit from,” she adds.

Victoria Fortier, DOC for Woodland Villa, says she is very excited about the possibilities represented in meeting as a community of practice. “Each home has so much to share. It’s silly to reinvent the wheel; if we can meet with each other with solutions in hand for something, then why not share it?” asks Victoria.

Victoria also sees it as beneficial for improving CMI accountability among staff. “What works, what is consistent and how do we ensure documentation gets done…these are the kinds of things we can be vigilant about,” she notes.

“When a number of experts are brought together in their field, who knows how much potential we can unlock?”