Helping co-ordinate care in Cape Breton: Hailey Boutilier’s healthcare career

For Hailey Boutilier, growing up in Cape Breton meant being a part of a close-knit community where helping others came naturally. From an early age, she knew she wanted a career that made a real difference in people's lives. That passion for helping others is what led her to healthcare and continues to drive her today as the clinical training lead for the Care Coordination Centre (C3) in Cape Breton. 

Hailey’s career journey was built on a foundation of hands-on experience and a growing appreciation for the complexity of healthcare. She began as a ward clerk, supporting  inpatient units and outpatient clinics. “Each position helped me see how everything connects,” she says. “It showed me that no matter your role, you're part of something bigger — every person contributes to a patient’s experience and outcome.” 

While working on a surgical floor at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Hailey’s manager encouraged her to consider a new opportunity with the C3 team. “I was excited, but also nervous,” she recalls. “It was a leap into the unknown — but one that turned out to be incredibly rewarding.” 

Hailey now trains healthcare professionals to use the C3 platform — a tool that improves communication and co-ordination across care teams. Tailored training helps each team member understand how their input contributes to a more complete picture of a patient’s needs and timely care. 

“Since C3 was introduced, we’ve been able to identify patient needs sooner, plan safer discharges earlier, and simplify transfers — even co-ordinating bed swaps with Halifax for patients who need specialized care,” Hailey explains. “It means patients can return to the place they call home sooner, with the right supports in place.” 

Beyond improving how patients flow through the health system, C3 has also helped teams identify opportunities to improve processes and reduce unnecessary hospital stays. By bringing real-time data from multiple systems into one place, it’s helping care teams make more informed decisions. 

For Hailey, the most rewarding part of her work is knowing it’s making a real impact. “We’re not just using advanced technology, we’re supporting real people. We’re helping patients get where they need to be, when they need to be there, without unnecessary delays.” 

Photo of Hailey Boutilier.