Vancouver Island – The Patient Voices Network (PVN), in collaboration with Island Health, is looking for patient partners to join quality councils and contribute in improving access to care across the health authority.
“Our health authority and the more than 767,000 people we serve benefit greatly from the insight and knowledge gained from patient partners with real experiences in our hospitals and our community services,” said Island Health Board Chair Leah Hollins. “When we listen to patients and include them in conversation about health and care we can improve services and systems because we are better together.”
There are vacancies to fill on five of the Island Health quality councils: Laboratory Services, Child, Youth & Family, the Quality Oversight Committee, Geography 1 (North Island) and Therapeutic Stewardship & Safety. Quality councils meet regularly to approve new standards of care, review adverse patient events, identify improvements and celebrate successes. The councils provide the structure to address quality matters and make recommendations that ultimately enhance the care we provide.
Specifically, Island Health’s quality councils are seeking people who:
- Have recent experience, personally or through a loved one, in receiving care from Island Health
- Are interested in sharing insights and information about their health-care experiences in ways that others can learn from
- Are comfortable participating in a committee setting
- Can work respectfully in partnership with a variety of other people
- Take a constructive approach to discussing concerns and ideas to address them
How to volunteer:
- Visit www.patientvoicesbc.ca and click on Sign up as a Patient Partner
- Fill out the form, hit submit and PVN will be in touch with you to schedule an orientation
- Click on Engagement Opportunities to see the list of open opportunities and RSVP to the ones that interest you
- Patient partners must currently live in B.C. and use the province’s health-care system
Barbara Aust, who lives on Salt Spring Island, says serving as a patient partner on the Seniors’ Quality Council is a privilege.
“Space is allotted on each agenda for input from the patient’s perspective,” Aust said. “This is a powerful indicator of the recognition and respect that is being shown. Listening to patient partners allows the organization to hear firsthand how their services are being received and supports continuous quality improvement.”
Eric Gubby, a PVN patient partner who sits on two Island Health quality councils, said he enjoys how data analysis tools and investigative techniques used in health-care mirror those he used during his career in the aerospace industry.
“Every health-care worker has one basic goal at heart - ensuring the best possible outcome for the patient. As a patient partner you can help achieve that goal in more ways than you can imagine,” Gubby said. “I can guarantee that your participation will be greatly valued by the health-care professionals you will meet, and your comments and questions will always be welcomed.”
The Patient Voices Network is a community of patients, families and caregivers working together with health care partners to improve BC’s health-care system. The network is guided by its mission to advance meaningful patient engagement by building the capacity of its partners so person- and family-centred care becomes the foundation from which all health care decisions are made. This includes recruiting and supporting patient partners, while working with health-care partners to identify and promote local, regional and provincial opportunities for engaging the patient perspective in positive health care transformation. For more information, please visit www.patientvoicesbc.ca. PVN is supported by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council.
Island Health provides health care and support services to more than 767,000 people on Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and mainland communities north of Powell River.
With more than 20,000 staff and over 2,000 medical staff, 6,000 volunteers, and the dedicated support of foundations and auxiliaries, Island Health delivers a broad range of health services, including: public health services, primary health care, home and community care, mental health and addictions services, acute care in hospitals, and much more across a huge, geographically diverse region.
Patient Voices Network media inquiries:
Kevin Smith
Director, Communications
BC Patient Safety & Quality Council
604.668.8213
ksmith@bcpsqc.ca
Island Health media inquiries:
Meribeth Burton
Media Relations
250.519.1815
meribeth.burton@islandhealth.ca