BPSO at Michael Garron Hospital

What is BPSO?  

Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSOs) are healthcare and academic organizations that assess, implement and evaluate the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) Best Practice Guidelines. The program is an internationally global, dynamic partnership focused on making positive impacts on patient care and staff satisfaction. 

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) initiative works with health care organizations over a three-year period to implement internationally-recognized Nursing Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) that provide current, comprehensive recommendations for patient care based on the latest research evidence.

Michael Garron Hospital's BPSO Journey 

2019: Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) joined with partners in East Toronto to become one of the first Best Practice Spotlight Organization Ontario Health Teams (BPSO OHTs). 

2024: MGH received its designation. 

2026: MGH signed a partnership with the RNAO to become a direct BPSO organization. 

This next phase of our journey will advance evidence-based practices specific to MGH and help us become a global leader in advancing evidence-based practice. 

“Our journey to become an RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) will give us the opportunity to implement proven, system-wide evidence into everyday nursing practice. By implementing multiple RNAO Best Practice Guidelines with dedicated teams assessing practice and monitoring outcomes, we will see fewer complications (like falls and pressure injuries) and better patient and family experiences. For our point of care health providers, BPSO strengthens professional practice, supports healthier work environments and creates real leadership opportunities. BPSO will help us deliver safer, higher-quality, people-centered care and help staff practice at their full potential, with results that are measurable, sustainable and internationally recognized.”  
-Mikki Layton, Vice President, Professional Practice, Programs, Scholarship and Chief Nursing Executive

Our Best Practice Guidelines 

RNAO’s best practice guidelines (BPGs) are systematically developed, evidence-based documents that include recommendations for nurses, interprofessional health teams, educators, leaders and policy-makers on how to improve outcomes for people and their support networks.  

MGH will be implementing four RNAO Best Practice Guidelines: 

People-centred care 

This guideline is designed to improve the quality of partnerships that healthcare providers have with patients and their families. The goal is to implement person-and family-centred care practices to improve the patient experience.  

Learn more about this guideline: 

Care transitions 

This guideline provides best practice recommendations for members of the interprofessional team, organizations and the healthcare system to support safe and effective transitions between and across care settings. 

Learn more about this guideline: 

Pressure injury management: Risk assessment, prevention and treatment. 

A pressure injury (also known as a bedsore, pressure sore, or pressure ulcer) is damage to the skin and the soft tissue underneath. It can occur when constant pressure or rubbing cuts off blood flow to an area, usually over a bony part of the body.  

This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations to healthcare teams who assess and treat individuals with or at risk for developing pressure injuries.  

Learn more about this guideline: 

Preventing falls and reducing injury from falls  

This guideline provides recommendations regarding evidence-based practice, education and policy for preventing falls and reducing injuries from falls.  

Learn more about this guideline: 

Best Practice Champions 

Involving point-of-care staff in system change is vital. Staff at the bedside understand how work happens day to day, can identify challenges, offer solutions and help their colleagues adopt new practices. Without them, new plans often fail.   

That’s why Best Practice Champions are an integral part of MGH’s BPSO journey.   

These champions are dedicated practitioners or frontline clinicians who raise awareness of BPGs, have an understanding of change management processes, motivate their colleagues and influence the uptake of BPGs among workplace peers.

Get Involved 

  • Become a Best Practice Champion: Staff and community members can train as Best Practice Champions to lead local changes. 
  • Learn More: Read about the RNAO Best Practice Guidelines to see the evidence behind our work. 
  • Contact Us: Reach out to our internal BPSO lead team with any questions about our implementation projects.