The benefit of sharing success stories became clear to staff members of two long-term care homes recently after reading a story about an innovative new position and its effects on staff.

After reading a story in the Ontario Long Term Care Association’s Morning Report about the new personal support worker (PSW) lead position at Mill Creek Care Centre, a staff member at a home in Thunder Bay contacted Axiom News to find out more information.

She wanted to be put in touch with Jackie Reville, the PSW lead at Mill Creek Care Centre in Barrie.

Open since July of 2010, the Barrie home is encouraging its staff to work as a unit.

Responsive Health Management Inc., which manages Mill Creek Care Centre, had implemented the new position in the home.

Jackie Reville took on the role of the PSW lead, bridging gaps between departments. She is seen as an advocate of the PSWs to management and an advocate of management to the PSWs.

She acts as a mediator, and smothers sparks before they flame into fires.

Mill Creek Care Centre’s staff development co-ordinator Lisa Henderson contacted Axiom News about the new initiative. She was so excited about the success of this position she wanted to share the news with readers of Morning Report.

Lisa says she reached out to Axiom News to have to story written because of the great success with Jackie in the role.

The PSW lead story was the first from Mill Creek Care Centre ever published in Morning Report, and Lisa and Jackie are amazed at the quick reaction to the story from their long-term care colleagues.

“It’s a great feeling to work in an environment like this, you really want other people to be inspired by what you’re doing and you want to be able to be inspired,” says Lisa.

“We’re all separate homes, but you want to share information to better your home, and help other people better theirs,” she adds.

“We feel so strongly about the PSW lead position and Jackie has done such a great job, that if other people can get on board and have the same success then we’re so happy to share any information that we can,” says Lisa.

Lisa adds the team at Mill Creek Care Centre is excited that someone wants to replicate their initiative.

“We feel inspired by this. If the PSW lead could happen in the Thunder Bay home from this article, or the sharing of information can change a home that much, that’s fantastic.”

Since having their home’s idea storied, Lisa says she’s referred to Morning Report frequently, and has found some great ideas about staff recognition and resident activities she wants to try.

“I’m definitely interested in seeing what everybody else is doing,” she says.