As one of Canada’s leading academic hospitals, Women’s College Hospital (WCH) Research & Innovation Institute fosters a dynamic, collaborative environment where individuals from diverse care programs and disciplines are empowered to lead research aimed at advancing patient care.
The Substance Use Catalyst Grants support research, educational scholarships and quality improvement initiatives that address critical gaps in substance use care, with a focus on access to treatment, clinical programming and patient outcomes. This year, individuals and teams from across the hospital whose area of focus intersects with substance use were invited to apply for funding with two projects awarded $100,000 each in research funding.
Read below the list of grant recipients and their projects:
Optimizing and Increasing Referrals to RAAM Clinics from SCOPE
Project lead: Jennifer Shuldiner, PhD
This project aims to co-design, implement and evaluate an intervention to increase referrals to rapid access addiction medicine (RAAM) clinics from primary care, via physicians registered with SCOPE. In Ontario, non-team-based family physicians can sign up for SCOPE, a virtual platform that offers interdisciplinary support, including access to nurse navigators who assist with specialist care, tests and other healthcare resources in real time.
“Improving the connection between primary care and RAAM clinics is essential because it directly addresses gaps in access to timely and effective addiction services,” says Shuldiner. “Non-team-based family physicians often lack the resources and support to help patients who may be struggling, which can delay care for patients who need it most. By co-designing and implementing this intervention, we have the chance to support these physicians, streamline the referral process and improve health outcomes for those struggling with addiction.”
Opening Doors: Using Human-Centred Design to Develop Trauma-Informed Integrated Family Planning Services for Pregnancy-Capable Individuals with Substance Use Disorder at WCH
Co-leads: Dr. Heather Millar, Vanessa Wright, NP, Dr. Jennifer Wyman
There is a critical need for timely, comprehensive, trauma-informed family planning care for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). However, gaps in clinical guidelines, resources and provider comfort often delay appropriate care and lead to negative outcomes. This project aims to develop an integrated family planning care pathway at WCH for pregnancy-capable individuals with SUD, including a monitoring and evaluation plan, using Human-Centered Design methodology to create solutions tailored to their unique needs and experiences.
“I’m excited that WCH is committed to improving family planning care for one of our most marginalized patient groups,” says Dr. Millar, gynecologist and co-lead of the project. “Once implemented, this initiative will help us provide compassionate, flexible, comprehensive and trauma-informed care.”
Dr. Wyman, an addictions specialist and co-lead, adds, “as healthcare providers, we have ideas about what needs to change. But to truly address these barriers, we must learn from those who need these services. We’re excited that WCH is creating a system that involves people with lived experience in shaping, implementing, and evaluating care programs.”
Vanessa Wright, NP, concludes, “this project is a crucial step toward advancing a learning health system at WCH, where we continually learn from every patient and each other.”
Congratulations to the substance use catalyst grant award winners!