A 300-bed community hospital serving the residents of Chatham-Kent, South Lambton and Walpole Island, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is committed to core service excellence and top operational performance as well as to becoming a facility of choice in Southwestern Ontario. With campuses in Chatham and Wallaceburg, CKHA is comprised of 1,380 compassionate staff, 125 physicians and 550 volunteers who care for tens of thousands of inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients annually.

Awarded recognition

CKHA uses a number of best practice guidelines to provide evidence-based, safe, quality care for its patients. And it shows, as the organization has earned a patient satisfaction rate of over 94%, and is proud to be an RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization. Linked to tertiary centres in London, Windsor and beyond, CKHA is a national leader in clinical technology and the winner of several provincial awards for employment excellence, safety, information technology, communications and green efforts. In fact, CKHA’s commitment to patient safety is evident through its participation in Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Safer Healthcare Now! initiatives. CKHA has earned recognition for efforts to improve healthcare workplaces in a number of ways that contribute to quality of work-life and the quality of the care and services we deliver. CKHA values its employees and recognizes their knowledge, skills and compassion – a combination that truly sets CKHA apart.

An Exceptional Community Hospital

The organization’s 2011-2013 Strategic Directions support a new vision — An Exceptional Community Hospital. CKHA will provide exceptional care, attract/retain exceptional talent, develop exceptional ideas and be a hospital with exceptional performance. CKHA aims to be an exceptional community hospital that is setting standards and exceeding expectations. Currently, CKHA boasts shorter wait times for orthopaedic and cataract surgery.

Valued Nurses

Equipped with facilities and technologies that support electronic documentation and best practices, CKHA, a partner of the Western Ontario Health Knowledge Network, is an employer of choice for nurses and other healthcare professionals who value core service excellence. CKHA recognizes that nurses are an integral part of our healthcare team. Through the Professional Practice Standards & Outcomes (PPSO) committee, we implement and evaluate safe quality care changes and advance professional practice issues organization wide. In this lifelong learning environment, development is encouraged through in-house educational and tuition reimbursement opportunities for our front line staff. CKHA also has linkages with large teaching centres through student placements, cross-appointments of faculty and clinical research. A quality work/life balance is also stressed to promote personal wellness and an on-site fitness facility that offers cardio and strength-training equipment and fitness classes.

A broad scope of practice

CKHA’s philosophy of service excellence and patient and family-centred care continues to create and expand programs designed to meet the unique needs of its community’s population. Under this philosophy, nurses have the opportunity to practice in a wide range of clinical areas including critical care, acute care, complex continuing care, rehabilitation, mental health, maternal care, paediatrics and outpatient services, including oncology.

Additionally, CKHA has a provincially designated District Stroke Centre, an Early Psychosis Intervention program for Youth, a Dialysis Satellite program and an Ontario Breast Screening Satellite program, which includes just becoming one of nineteen programs in Ontario to be a High Risk Breast Centre.

Something for everyone

Situated on the same latitude as Northern California, Chatham-Kent experiences a moderate climate with four beautifully changing seasons. This dynamic community offers excellent year-round, world-class cultural and recreational activities, including provincial parks, beaches, golf courses, hiking trails, fishing and boating, as well as festivals, theatres, museums and galleries. It’s a great place to live, work and play.