Dr. Christine Gemeinhardt, the medical coordinator at KinVillage in Tsawwassen, was named the 2016 Health Care Hero for Affiliate employers at the 10th annual BC Health Care Awards.
The Gold Apple awards were handed out June 27 at a luncheon hosted by the Health Employers Association of BC at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver.
Gemeinhardt has dedicated her career to improving care for older, often frail adults living in residential care.
From her early days looking after her own patients who were living at KinVillage, to taking on the role of medical coordinator responsible for all KinVillage residents, Gemeinhardt has implemented changes that have resulted in fewer transfers to hospital emergency rooms and a reduction in the number of medications KinVillage residents take, including a reduction in the use of antipsychotic medications.
She has been a leader as KinVillage embraced and adopted person-centered care, challenging her colleagues as well as family members to always ask: What would this resident want?
In recognition of her efforts and contributions, Gemeinhardt was awarded the Certificate of Added Competence in Care for the Elderly by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Gemeinhardt encourages each member of the care team to look at the whole individual and consider all aspects of the resident's life when making care plan decisions. She has worked to ensure care plans include clear goals that reflect the resident's wishes, including using a palliative approach when that is most appropriate.
Recognizing that life's challenges are not limited to office hours,
Gemeinhardt is available to family members to answer questions and offer support, whether it is a Sunday afternoon or weekday evening.
