Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

At the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, we are always inspired by the incredible strides being made in healthcare innovation, and today, we have the privilege of celebrating a remarkable achievement. Bridge Healing, an initiative funded and supported by the Foundation, was nominated for two prestigious 2024 ASTech Awards—amongst a field of many extremely worthy nominees, Bridge Healing came away with the top honour in one of its categories. 

The Bridge Healing program, a partnership between the Jasper Place Wellness Centre (JPWC) and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, was nominated for both the Medical/Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals category and the Social Innovation/Educational Technologies category. While both nominations were impressive in their own right, the Bridge Healing program emerged victorious in the Social Innovation/Educational Technologies: Community Enterprise category. 

We are thrilled to share the success of this innovative project, which has already made a tangible difference in the lives of many it has helped. Bridge Healing tackles the issues those dealing with houselessness face in an effective way, reducing the frequency of patients returning to emergency departments by providing individuals with a holistic, community-based model of care. 

Taylor Soroka, a representative of JPWC and a key leader of the Bridge Healing program, shared her team’s pride in the award win: 

"This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our incredible team and the direct leadership of Bridgette, Ashley, Chantelle, and Dr. Lou [Dr. Louis Francescutti]. Their hands-on commitment and community-driven approach have made Bridge Healing what it is today—an innovative, barrier-breaking solution that addresses homelessness and reduces repeat ‘social admit’ visits to emergency departments." 

The team involved with Bridge Healing knew building this initiative was not going to be easy. But belief in the potential of the pilot program has led to a significant step toward creating real change for the houseless population. As Taylor noted, the impact of the program is undeniable: 

"Today, we’re proud to see that belief validated, with a statistically significant reduction in emergency department use for those who find stability through the program. To every person who put their hands on deck and to the supporters who stood behind us and pushed this forward, thank you. Your belief in our mission and unwavering support make all the difference." 

At the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, we are privileged to support initiatives like Bridge Healing, which align with our commitment to improving the lives of those in need, especially those facing barriers to healthcare and housing stability. Through innovative approaches like these, we can begin to break the cycles of hardship that too often keep vulnerable individuals in a state of crisis. 

The Bridge Healing team’s award reflects the powerful combination of research, technology, and compassion that drives meaningful change in our communities. Together, the support and work of our community is helping to make a difference for all Albertans. 

As evidence to this fact, our community supported the Bridge Healing program with over $321,000 over the course of an inspiring Giving Tuesday campaign—read more about that effort here. 

We can’t wait to see what Bridge Healing can achieve next! 

 

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