When Nicole Aminot looks at St. Boniface Hospital, she sees an inclusive and welcoming place that is “our hospital, for all.”
It was a guiding principle for her even before the Hospital’s Board of Directors selected her to be the new President and Chief Executive Officer this past summer.
“How do we make everyone that walks through the Hospital doors feel welcomed, with no biases?” she asked. “How can we make them feel listened to and like we have taken care of them holistically?”
To find the answer, Aminot turned to the 2020-2023 strategic plan adopted by the Hospital’s Board. The plan includes a pillar called “l’hôpital de chez nous” which commits St. Boniface to welcome all patients from different communities including Métis, First Nations, and Inuit while being sensitive to the cultural needs and practices of all communities.
Staff engagement a top priority
The oldest of five children, Aminot was born in St. Boniface Hospital. She grew up in the community of Ile-des-Chenes, where she still lives with her husband, Bert, a City of Winnipeg firefighter.
Another strategic pillar called “focus on our people” is helping her to address what she sees as one of her most pressing challenges: attracting and retaining health-care workers. The pillar commits St. Boniface to respect, support, empower and celebrate team members working at the Hospital. It promises to prioritize safety, holistic wellness, and work-life balance.
To connect with her staff, Aminot has been visiting clinical and non-clinical units in person with members of the executive management team. She tries to visit two to three units each week. Once she has been to every corner of the Hospital, she plans to start the process all over again.
“We go to hear what some of their pain points are, and also, what makes them proud to work at St. Boniface,” she said. “I say to staff, ‘We want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly.’ They have appreciated seeing us and feeling heard. I always thank the staff for everything they do for our patients. We treat them like our most valuable assets because they are.”
Staff members have told her that work-life balance is most important. “That’s what everyone’s looking for nowadays,” she acknowledged. “How does this work for them with their families, and with the organization? We celebrate things that make St. Boniface a great place to work, and hopefully, we can make adjustments on the things that are not so great.”
Patient prioritization a focus
Another challenge Aminot is eager to tackle in her new role is something she terms, “access and flow.”
“What I mean by access and flow” explained the Chartered Management Accountant, who holds a Business Administration diploma from Université de Saint-Boniface, “is how we prioritize patients. It’s about getting the patient to the right place, at the right time, for the right amount of time.”
“In reality, it’s important to fully understand the clinical challenges when deciding when to move a patient and to where. Then the pandemic adds another layer of complexity. Did they have symptoms; are we awaiting lab results?”
“Our donors are fantastic. They always answer the call.”
If there’s one thing Aminot knows she can count on, meanwhile, it is the steadfast generosity and unwavering support of St. Boniface Hospital Foundation donors.
“Our donors are fantastic. They always answer the call,” she exclaimed. “We appreciate our donors; I can’t say it enough.”
Pointing to the donor-supported redevelopment and expansion of the Hospital’s Emergency Department that is currently underway,
Aminot said the transformed spaces will result in significantly better experiences for both patients and Hospital staff. “It’s going to be first class,” she said.
Aminot enjoys working with the Foundation to find the best fits, in terms of Hospital priorities for donors to support.
“It’s about making a difference in patient care because that’s what matters to donors, and patients, for that matter. It’s up to me, our executive management team, and the folks at the Foundation to make those matches.”
“We all want to make those advancements in patient care and medical research…In the not-so-distant future, I think St. Boniface Hospital will be leading on several fronts.”
Support Hospital President and CEO Nicole Aminot’s vision for St. Boniface. Donate today.