Celebrating Collaboration: Values in Action Award – Stronger Together

At the November meeting of the Quinte Health Board of Directors, Board Member Michael O’Shea had the honour of presenting the Values in Action Award under the banner of our value, Stronger Together. We were also pleased to be joined virtually by Anna Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Health atHome, and Lisa Burden, Chief Patient Services Officer, Ontario Health atHome, who celebrated the recipients alongside us. 

As part of this month’s newsletter, we’re pleased to share the award script that accompanied this special recognition:

It is truly an honour to stand before you today as we celebrate something that too often goes unspoken in healthcare: the power of collaboration.

In a system as complex as health care can be, we know the truth – no one team, program, or organization can do it alone. We must work together, across boundaries and disciplines, to ensure that patients receive the care they need, when and where they need it.

At a time when we are seeing more patients than ever, with an older population and increasingly complex needs, collaboration is not a nice-to-have, it is essential.

That’s why today, it gives me such great joy to present this Values in Action Award, under the banner of our deeply held value: Stronger Together.

This award recognizes two remarkable individuals whose teamwork is the very definition of that value:  Lisa Vani-Sprague, Patient Flow Coordinator at Quinte Health and Michelle Campbell, Home Care Coordinator with Ontario Health atHome.

As part of Quinte Health’s Patient Flow team, Lisa plays a vital role in helping patients move safely and efficiently through the hospital—from admission to discharge—ensuring that every transition supports quality care and timely access for others waiting to be admitted.

Michelle, in her role with Ontario Health atHome, coordinates community-based supports and services, working to make sure patients have the right care in place once they leave the hospital, helping them recover safely.

Lisa and Michelle work side-by-side every day, not because they wear the same badge or report to the same organization, but because they are united in their commitment to doing what’s right for patients.  Whether it’s coordinating a safe discharge, navigating complex needs, or solving the puzzle of getting the right supports in place, they do so with clarity, compassion, and a shared focus on removing barriers. They see beyond silos. What they see first and foremost are people – patients, families, care teams – and they work tirelessly to make sure the transitions are seamless and supportive.

Their collaboration not only improves patient flow within our hospitals but also ensures continuity of care in the community.  We know there is still much work to be done to improve access to the right care in the right place, and that’s precisely why it’s important to stop and spotlight those moments of excellence. Because as we improve and as we stretch toward the future of health care, we must also take time to recognize the greatness already among us.

Lisa and Michelle, you represent what’s best about Quinte Health and our health system. You show us what happens when we align around a common purpose and let values lead the way. 

Thank you for reminding us all of what Stronger Together really looks like.

#Connection #StrongerTogether