Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) has been awarded the Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) Hospital Quality Improvement status. This designation underscores CMH’s commitment to optimizing care resources, improving patient safety while delivering high-quality, evidence-based care.
This achievement was made possible through the leadership and collaboration of the project team: Kenneth Abogadil, Director of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Cardiology and Diagnostic Imaging; Dr. Jacqueline Bourgeois, Chief of Laboratory Medicine; Hayley Hamilton Manager of Laboratory Medicine; Dr. Winnie Lee, Chief of Staff; Stephanie Pearsall, VP of Clinical Programs & Chief Nursing Executive; Kim Towes Director of Perioperative and Women’s & Children’s Programs; Jennifer Visocchi, Director of Pharmacy & Supply Chain.
“All of us—from staff to leaders jumped on board—it speaks volumes about what our little hospital can achieve,” says Dr. Bourgeois, who presented alongside Hamilton at the CWC National Meeting earlier this year.
The presentation reflected years of dedication—a CWC journey that began with a simple commitment—smarter, safer care—in the bustling hive of CMH Laboratory Medicine. “Now, it transcends our department walls,” says Abogadil who spearheaded the campaign from the very start.
The CWC program recognizes hospitals that take deliberate action to reduce overuse and demonstrate organizational commitment to minimizing waste and harm. Grounded in more than 500 evidence-based recommendations, CMH brought CWC to life by:
- Achieving the Using Blood Wisely Hospital designation in November 2023: CMH earned this designation by reducing unnecessary transfusion practices strengthening Ontario's blood supply and joining more than 270 hospitals across Canada.
- Achieving the Using Labs Wisely designation in December 2024: CMH earned this designation by eliminating unnecessary, low-value lab tests like Red Blood Cell folate—a test considered obsolete since the 1990s. Using Labs Wisely is the national consortium of hospitals committed to improving patient care by reducing tests that add little value to a patient’s care journey.
- Making our Operating Rooms Greener by Removing Desflurane in April 2025: CMH addressed the high environmental cost of desflurane, an anesthetic agent with a global warming potential more than 2,500 times that of Carbon Dioxide.
Through these efforts and a credit system, CMH successfully earned five credits meeting the requirement to apply for this designation.
“This designation reflects the commitment of our teams to safer, evidence-based care and a culture of continuous improvement,” says Pearsall. “We’re proud to lead with integrity and innovation.”
Becoming a CWC hospital reflects our Strategic Plan’s call to Reimagine Community Health by embracing transformation and improving the way CMH delivers care.
It also shapes how departments across CMH think about resource stewardship—from the lab to imaging to pharmacy. It’s a culture of growth, curiosity, and evidence-based practice with a shared responsibility.
The journey is not over—it’s just beginning.
Diagnostic Imaging is implementing quality improvement initiatives by enhancing the Oceans physician referral database. Using data-driven results, physicians can now identify which exam or test is most appropriate for their patient.
Pharmacy is taking steps of their own by discontinuing or prolonging broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment unless clinically indicated to reduce antimicrobial resistance, rates of adverse effects, and healthcare costs.
“We’re coming together,” says Hamilton, her voice filled with pride as she reflects on the three-year journey to-date. With this milestone behind us, the real work begins: turning CWC from a project into a mindset.
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Pictured (L to R): Kenneth Abogadil, Director of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Cardiology and Diagnostic Imaging; Dr. Winnie Lee, Chief of Staff; Patrick Gaskin, President & CEO; Stephanie Pearsall, VP of Clinical Programs & Chief Nursing Executive; and Hayley Hamilton, Manager of Laboratory Medicine.
Not Pictured: Dr. Jacqueline Bourgeois, Chief of Laboratory Medicine; Kim Towes Director of Perioperative and Women’s & Children’s Programs; Jennifer Visocchi, Director of Pharmacy & Supply Chain.