Speech-Language Pathologists Mindy Marriott and Katie Marochi are recipients of an Innovator Award for developing a transformative, virtual model of care.
Based out of Chilliwack General Hospital, Mindy and Katie and their team diagnose and treat swallowing, speech, language, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders for people living in communities spanning from Chilliwack to Boston Bar.
In late 2022, they noted a trend in growing wait times as demand for outpatient services was exceeding their capacity. As a small, community hospital, recruiting casual speech-language pathologists for additional workload has often been a challenge.
Recognizing the pressing need to find more resources to deliver these essential services, Mindy proposed a new approach to the standard service delivery for speech-language pathology outpatients: A virtual-first model.
Learn more about the Chilliwack General Hospital Speech-Language Pathology Team’s inspiring work:
This change in delivery opened the doors to a wealth of speech-language pathologists across the province ready to provide services for communication interventions and swallowing consultations remotely. This has allowed the team to provide faster, more convenient access to services, while expanding their pool of potential hires by removing geographical barriers.
“Mindy built a really innovative program that serves her clients and enabled her to cut her wait-list more than in half,” says colleague Lara Sas, a speech-language pathologist at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
The model also allows clients flexibility of when and where they receive services and, if they don’t have access to the required technology at home, the team has a solution for that, too.
“When our clients enter into their virtual program, if they don’t have the ability to access the virtual service from their own home, they can use the tools onsite to meet with their virtual speech-language pathologist,” explains Mindy.
One of those tools is the ‘Neat Board,’ a large, interactive, touch-screen device with integrated microphones and speakers. It tracks on-screen movements, imitating an in-person meeting. It’s available in a separate room within the clinic to ensure patients’ privacy during their sessions.
“If Mindy was the architect in all of this, I’d say Katie was the builder,” says Lara. “She’s fierce, she sees what’s in front of her and she just does it.”
Once Mindy had come up with the idea and secured the staff and equipment, Katie jumped in feet first to set up the operational and workflow requirements. Her colleagues say her energy and dedication to coordinating with staff was instrumental to the program’s success.
“Our patients are now receiving more timely access to care. We have made it easier for them to access speech-language pathology services by removing barriers, such as needing to travel to our site,” explains Katie.
Katie also feels they have found a desirable work experience for clinicians, offering flexibility and autonomy over their work hours.
From the first stages of conceptualization to the final operational phase, the united effort of Mindy and Katie allowed them to reduce wait times between September 2023 and April 2024 by 45 weeks.
This kind of leadership – bold, collaborative and compassionate – is what sets Mindy and Katie apart and will continue to inspire others to push the boundaries of what’s possible in health care.
Congratulations to the Chilliwack General Hospital Speech-Language Pathology Team – recipients of an Innovator Award.
