Jessica Votruba, an accomplished occupational therapist (OT) and team lead for safety coaches has worked at Holland Bloorview for over 15 years, combining clinical expertise with leadership in safety.
Inspired by her best friend with cerebral palsy and her father's commitment to fostering independence, Jessica pursued a career in occupational therapy, completing her master’s at the University of Toronto in 2008 and joining Holland Bloorview soon after, first as a student on placement and advancing to various clinical and leadership roles.
Jessica leads the safety coaches team, which plays a crucial role in the hospital’s mission to achieve zero preventable harm. She emphasizes the importance of integrating client care with a strong safety culture, sharing success stories like the use of error prevention tools with staff to maintain a safe environment.
Her dedication to safety stems from a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of care while reducing risks for both staff and clients, ultimately fostering a safety culture of trust and wellbeing within the Holland Bloorview community.
Can you briefly tell us about yourself and your role at Holland Bloorview?
I am an occupational therapist (OT) with over 15 years of experience. At Holland Bloorview, I work as a clinician on the inpatient unit, where I assess and provide wheelchairs to clients with mobility needs. I am also an inpatient clinician on the specialized orthopedic and developmental rehabilitation team. As an occupational therapist, my role is to ensure that clients can be as independent as possible in completing their activities of daily living. This can include, dressing, feeding, mobility, fine motor skills, really the list is infinite! In addition, as part of the safety coach program, a Caring Safely initiative, I lead safety coaches, dedicated to fostering a strong safety culture through a supportive and proactive approach.
What inspired you to pursue a career in occupational therapy and how did you come to work at Holland Bloorview?
My inspiration began when my best friend in grade 1 was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and showed incredible independence in using a power wheelchair. Her determination motivated me to pursue a career helping others achieve independence. During high school, I enjoyed working with children with disabilities as a babysitter. My father, a registered nurse, also influenced me; he went to great lengths to ensure my grandmother could live independently – purchasing a bath chair, commode, porch lift, manual wheelchair/power wheelchair and even modified his own van to make it accessible. By grade 10, I knew occupational therapy was the right fit for my passion. After completing my master’s in occupational therapy from the University of Toronto in 2008, I joined Holland Bloorview during my final student placement and have been here in various roles ever since.
Can you describe the safety coaches team that you’re leading and the great work they are doing?
The safety coaches team consists of clinical and non-clinical staff dedicated to advancing our goal of zero harm as part of the Caring Safely initiative. They are trained to observe work behaviors and provide peer-to-peer support, reinforcing safety practices to prevent errors across the organization.
Why is this work so important to the clients and families and our community?
This safety culture transformation is part of the Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS) network, which includes over 140 children’s hospitals across North America, including Holland Bloorview. The network is focused on reducing harm by preventing serious patient and employee safety events and hospital acquired conditions. By promoting the use of error prevention tools, the network has achieved an 80 per cent reduction in preventable harm events. Our involvement underscores our commitment to achieving zero preventable harm.
Can you share a success story or an example of the impact this work has had on clients?
One success story involved a family member noticing an unknown person without a lanyard on the inpatient unit. Staff used the ARCC error prevention tool (Ask, Request, Concern, Chain of command) to raise the issue with the risk and safety team, leading to the individual being asked to leave. This incident prompted additional safety measures to enhance safety, including front door check-ins for lanyard and intent of visit.
What inspires you to do the work that you do?
I am deeply committed to clients and staff safety. I believe that reducing safety risks not only enhances the quality of care but also promotes overall wellbeing for all by minimizing compassion fatigue, staff turnover and burnout. Ultimately, this work builds trust with clients and families.
What do you find most rewarding about your job and what makes Holland Bloorview special to you?
I enjoy working with people and seeing clients achieve their goals. Supporting families throughout their stay and providing solutions is rewarding.
The colleagues and the children and families that I work with make Holland Bloorview special to me. They provide me with endless energy to live my best life while enabling them to live theirs.
What are you most proud of in your time with the organization?
When I reflect upon my 15-year journey at Holland Bloorview, I think about all the families that I have been fortunate enough to watch grow over the years. Hearing about their challenges and their successes makes me a better clinician and advocate.
