The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce that the Division of Hospital Medicine’s Innovation Hub (DHM-IH) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has been named recipient of the Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement for their innovative approach to addressing cancer screening disparities among individuals with severe mental illness (SMI).
Since its inception in 2021, the DHM-IH has implemented a transformative quality improvement initiative that integrates physical healthcare into mental health settings, tackling significant gaps in cancer screenings for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers. Through trauma-informed resources, digital tools, and co-designed workflows, the initiative has achieved remarkable improvements, including a 30% increase in colorectal cancer screening, a 33% improvement in breast cancer screening, and a 48% rise in cervical cancer screening among long-stay inpatients.
This equity-driven initiative not only enhances healthcare access but also challenges the systemic inequities faced by individuals with SMI, who are often disproportionately affected by healthcare disparities. The DHM-IH’s integration of physical health care into mental health settings, along with its trauma-informed educational materials and electronic health record (EHR)-integrated workflows, has fostered greater patient engagement and trust. Through strong partnerships with organizations like Women’s College Hospital and Cancer Care Ontario, the DHM-IH has developed a scalable and patient-centered model that addresses the unique healthcare needs of vulnerable populations while improving outcomes and experiences for both patients and clinicians.
The DHM-IH’s efforts reflect a commitment to systemic health improvements and innovative care delivery, making a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with SMI. The initiative’s success exemplifies the core values of the Canadian College of Health Leaders by advancing quality improvement, equity, and leadership in healthcare. As a result, the DHM-IH’s approach sets a new benchmark for integrated care and serves as a model for other healthcare institutions striving to reduce health disparities and improve patient outcomes in mental health and addictions services.
The Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement honours a hospital, health authority, community based mental health and addictions program/service, or a leader in the field that demonstrates evidence-informed and sustained quality improvements (QI) in the area of mental health and addictions.
The award is sponsored by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is an organisation that leads the development and dissemination of innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians. Through its unique mandate from the Government of Canada, the MHCC supports federal, provincial, and territorial governments as well as organizations in the implementation of sound public policy.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is a non-governmental organization that provides national leadership on substance use and advances solutions to address alcohol- and other drug-related harms. CCSA provides guidance to decision makers through harnessing the power of research, collecting and organizing knowledge, and bringing together diverse perspectives.
This award is part of our CCHL National Awards Program and will be presented at the Honouring Health Leadership event on June 15, 2025.
For further information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Christian Coulombe
Vice-President, Marketing & Membership
Canadian College of Health Leaders
613-235-7219, ext. 213
ccoulombe@cchl-ccls.ca
