Every client who completes treatment at Renascent reaches an important milestone that marks the beginning of a new chapter in their recovery. For Renascent’s teams, helping clients stay engaged and complete treatment is as important as helping them begin it in the first place.

Last year, Renascent launched a successful pilot project aimed at helping reduce early client discharges. The project was critical because clients who do not complete treatment are at a significantly greater risk of relapse.

Led by Renascent’s newly formed Quality Improvement Committee (R-QIC), the initiative focused on identifying innovative ways to better support clients before treatment. The R-QIC consists of staff from across the organization and focuses on strengthening quality outcomes across our programs.

“We wanted to reduce early discharges by 5% in the first six months, and by 10% in the following six-month period,” said Alessandro Motta, Manager of Program Quality Measurement and Improvement. “We reached our final target within the first six months alone.”

Using quality improvement frameworks, the R-QIC introduced several evidence-based changes aimed at improving the client experience before admission.

Prior to admission, treatment centre staff connected directly with incoming clients to help them better understand what to expect during treatment, including program structure, daily routines, and available support. Members of Renascent’s Client Care and Access Centre team also worked with community partners to help incoming clients access additional support before beginning treatment.

“These conversations and connections helped clients feel more prepared and supported before arriving for treatment. That preparation and empathetic connection can make a meaningful difference in helping someone remain engaged in their recovery,” shared Alessandro.

Along with improving treatment retention, the formation of the R-QIC helped further strengthen collaboration across teams and foster a growing culture of quality improvement.

By combining evidence-informed practices with compassion and human connection, Renascent continues to strengthen the quality of its care, helping more individuals remain in treatment, achieve recovery, and build healthier futures.

This initiative stemmed from Excellence in Quality Improvement Project (E-QIP), a project developed to foster a data driven approach to improving care in the community mental health and addiction sector. E-QIP is co-led by Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario.