QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department is working with reduced space, which may lead to delays for those with less urgent concerns. Learn more here.
Starting Saturday, December 14, the entrance to the QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department will change to 1840 Bell Road. Learn more.
Collaborating, mentoring and volunteering: Cape Breton physiotherapist named patient safety champion
Tanya Feehan, physiotherapist at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital, started working at the hospital in 2005. She has since built a career dedicated to delivering high quality care and ensuring patient safety.
Feehan was recently named one of 49 patient safety champion individuals and teams at Nova Scotia Health.
Her nomination highlights “she exhibits timely and accurate diagnosis in her practice at the Inverness hospital. She is also practicing as a clinical instructor for Dalhousie University and instilling the importance of an accurate diagnosis and the use of evidence-based practice.”
Feehan supports both inpatient and outpatient care—addressing everything from sprained ankles to post-operative recovery.
She’s involved in daily bullet rounds, which foster communication between all healthcare staff involved with inpatient care. They discuss patient progress, identify barriers to discharge and prevent medical complications.
“It's all about teamwork,” said Feehan. “The nurses often see patients more frequently, so communication between us is crucial to ensuring a safe environment and pushing patients to their mobility limits.”
In addition to bullet rounds, Feehan has presented at the hospital’s Physicians Journal Club. The club fosters knowledge exchange between physiotherapists and physicians, focusing on common challenges and new techniques/equipment.
Photo of Tanya Feehan, physiotherapist at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital and 2024 Nova Scotia Health patient safety champion.