Women's and Child health and Pharmacy

Melissa Martinig, Glenna West, Heidi DeLange, Tera McGonigal, Kathy Pincombe, Kimberly Chapman, Meghan Mior

At Grey Nuns Hospital, the Women's and child health team, made up of labor and delivery, postpartum and pharmacy services works together to bridge gaps, improve safety and ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

The Women’s and child health pharmacy team has tackled complex challenges by working across departments to streamline workflows and improve patient care. When duplicate medication orders became a persistent issue, pharmacy and women’s health professionals collaborated to develop a strategy to address the problem without disrupting patient treatment. Their commitment to listening, validating concerns and working toward a shared goal resulted in a more accurate and safer approach to care.

Their teamwork was also critical in improving protocols for HIV-positive deliveries. Recognizing gaps in the existing workflow, they worked together — engaging external specialists, pharmacists and nurses—to create a comprehensive process that ensures medications are never missed for mothers or newborns. Similarly, when faced with increasing deliveries for patients in the Maternal Medication Use and Neonatal Abstinence program, they established clear communication pathways and education initiatives to ensure timely and appropriate medication administration.

Rather than working in silos, this team embraced collaboration, breaking down barriers between pharmacy, labour and delivery, and postpartum care. Their ability to align resources, enhance efficiency and foster strong interdepartmental relationships has improved patient safety, staff morale and overall quality of care. Through their dedication and teamwork, the Women’s and child health pharmacy team allows Covenant Health to continue to be a leader in patient care.