An Interview with Maryanne D’Arpino – Chief Nursing Executive

With a passion for improving patient outcomes, Maryanne D’Arpino has dedicated her career to advocating for patient safety and quality across the healthcare system. Her extensive experience, skills and relationships contribute to her unique perspective on current and future needs and opportunities in home health care. As she steps into her role as Chief Nursing Executive, and Vice President, Quality and Professional Practice, Maryanne reflects on her nursing leadership journey thus far, shares her vision for nursing at Spectrum Health Care, and highlights how key trends in the evolving Canadian healthcare landscape are transforming and impacting nurse leadership and patient-centred care.

1.) How has your professional journey prepared you for your new role as Chief Nursing Executive at Spectrum Health Care?

Early in my nursing career, I noticed significant challenges in patient experience and outcomes. As a new nurse, you enter the field with an idealistic perspective, wanting the best for patients. I’ve also had a deep curiosity about system-wide issues and how different parts of the healthcare system could work better together to prevent patients from falling through the cracks.

I quickly realized that the transition points in care - where patients move between sectors are where the greatest safety risks exist and where things often break down, so I naturally gravitated toward leadership roles that aligned with quality improvement and patient safety.

Over the years, I’ve connected with a national and international network of professionals dedicated to advancing quality and safety in health care and these relationships are critical to accelerating improvement. Quality and safety must be embedded within our healthcare system, not just in new care models but also in the academic training of health care professionals.

At a high level, my work has consistently centered around quality and safety mandates and my experiences have reinforced that quality, and safety must be deeply embedded in every aspect of health care - whether at a policy level or in frontline service delivery. These insights are shaping how I approach my role at Spectrum, ensuring that we continue to elevate home care as a crucial component of the health system.

At Spectrum Health Care, I have the opportunity to build on a great foundation. This is a best-practice, high-performing organization and I’m already seeing it.

2) What do you believe will shape the future of nursing and patient experience in health care? How do you see these trends influencing nursing leadership and home care?

The health care trends transforming and impacting nursing leadership and patient experience outcomes.

1.) Delivering More Care in the Home
Home care has a unique and valuable place in the healthcare system. We know from various calls to action, that home care is one of the safest places to receive care. It has been documented that home care provides the safest environment for patients, and to ensure quality home care, we need to plan ahead.

2.) Aging Population in Canada
We need to plan for the baby boomers and for the increasing complexity of patients who are already served by the healthcare system. As they age, the severity and number of comorbidities will continue to rise, adding pressure to an already fragile system. This is compounded by a shrinking health care workforce, the slow adoption of emerging health care technologies, and the persistent call for innovation. While there are promising advancements happening in pockets, we need to scale these innovations to meet current needs.

3.) Digital Health and Technology
AI is already being used to predict and optimize nursing care, which is an exciting development! However, interoperability remains a significant challenge, making seamless care coordination difficult. This lack of interoperability is a major barrier, but within these challenges lies opportunities for innovation.

Another key factor is leveraging information technology to spread evidence-based practices effectively. Health care providers need real-time access to information to deliver the best care possible. Additionally, virtual care remains one of the biggest innovations, helping reduce system navigation challenges and allowing patients to focus on their health rather than struggling with logistical barriers. To maximize these benefits, home care delivery models must receive the necessary funding and support.

4.) News Models of Care
We're already seeing solutions emerge through new models of care, such as hospital-to-home programs. These models prioritize patient-centered care by wrapping resources around patients from pre-discharge through to home recovery, addressing long-standing gaps in care transitions. Historically, patients have been discharged from hospitals and then separately admitted to home care, creating a disconnect that compromises patient safety. This new approach enhances monitoring and support during the critical days post-hospitalization, reducing the risk of readmission. Beyond improving quality of life for patients and families, preventing rehospitalizations significantly reduces system costs.

These integrated models also extend into palliative care, offering real-world examples with the potential to scale across the province and country. However, successful implementation requires strengthened support systems, including empowering patients, caregivers, and health care teams. Nurses and interprofessional teams must not only be well-trained but also work in true collaboration, ensuring everyone understands their role in delivering safe, high-quality care.

5.) Increased Patient Engagement
Despite these challenges, Canada has made progress, particularly in patient engagement, and has made significant strides in integrating patient and caregiver voices into the system. I’ve personally worked closely with organizations who support individuals who have experienced preventable harm within the healthcare system and their advocacy has been instrumental in driving systemic change. By leveraging these partnerships, we can strengthen our approach to patient engagement and quality improvement.

3.) What is your vision for nursing at Spectrum? What opportunities do you see for Spectrum and the home care sector?

My vision is to create healthy working environments and support an organizational culture that is open to learning for improvement, which will lead to safe high-quality care. As well as build upon the strong foundation of nursing leadership practices established at Spectrum Health Care and continue cultivating an environment where current and a future generation of nurses find joy in their work and are empowered to deliver exceptional patient care. At Spectrum Health Care, we are fortunate to have outstanding nurse leaders, some with over 25 years of experience, who are dedicated to mentoring the next generation of nursing leaders.

By investing in our nursing workforce and embracing innovation, we can enhance clinical quality, patient safety, and outcomes, along with improving patient experiences, education, professional practice, and new program development through evidence-based practices aligned with Spectrum’s core values of caring, trust, responsiveness and safety. Together, we can ensure that home care and nursing remain integral to the success of the health system, creating opportunities for sustainable growth and improved patient outcomes. Through our collective efforts, we will continue to uphold Spectrum Health Care's commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care.

To read more about Maryanne’s appointment, click here.