The BCWH Penicillin Allergy Delabelling Clinic, whose team includes RID Program team members Dr. Chelsea Elwood, Dr. Julie van Schalkwyk, Dr. Jeffrey Wong, and Melissa Watt has recently been awarded the BC Quality Award for exemplary health care in the category of “Optimizing the Early Years” by Health Quality BC! Health Quality BC is a provincial organization that works to improve the quality of health care in BC, through the use of collaborative partnerships with various stakeholders and the promotion of innovative approaches to healthcare in BC. The BC Quality awards are awarded annually by the organization to highlight individuals and organizations across the province that are working to improve health care for British Columbians. The BCWH Penicillin Allery Delabelling Clinic was honored with this award due to its extensive work in providing safe and efficient penicillin allergy testing for pregnant individuals, which has led to the delabelling of around 800 individuals, ensuring that they can receive more effective penicillin-based medication during their pregnancy, delivery and later medical encounters rather than second-line agents. Additionally, the team at the BCWH Penicillin Allergy Delabelling Clinic’s commitment to disseminating the results from the clinic to improve clinical practice through multiple avenues including scientific publications, research conference presentations and a mobile application has also been highlighted as reasoning for this award. Furthermore, the clinic’s role in helping to inspire and support the creation of similar penicillin allergy delabelling programs in Winnipeg, MB through the University of Manitoba, at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, BC and in Prince George, BC were also highlighted as justification for this award by Health Quality BC. Congratulations to Dr. Chelsea Elwood, Dr. Julie van Schalkwyk, Dr. Jeffrey Wong and the rest of the BCWH Penicillin Allergy Delabelling Team!
For more information, click here to read the statement on the BCWH Penicillin Allergy Delabelling Clinic’s award from Health Quality BC!