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Because your voice matters.

An Update on Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group

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Categories: Patient Voice Mail

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group was formed in 2020 to explore how to reduce barriers to joining PVN. It also aims to explore how a welcoming environment – one that supports emotional safety and builds trust – can be promoted across the network.

The group consists of a BC Patient Safety & Quality Council team member and patient partners from the Northern, Island and Lower Mainland regions. Its work to date has included developing definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion; reviewing PVN resources and forms; and building relationships with community groups and societies to create space for shared learning.

In wanting to celebrate the diversity of our patient partners, the working group is planning a social meet-up for early 2022. This will be an opportunity for relationship building and connecting with diverse voices within the network and will build on the commonalities we share as humans, as we all have multiple identities that intersect. The hope is that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate fully in our network because a safe, trusting and supportive environment has been created.

If you’d like to learn more about the working group or help plan this event, please contact Cassy Mitchell at cmitchell@bcpsqc.ca or by phone: 250.279.0717.

Email Cassy

Author: Cassy Mitchell, Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement

From Our Community

Karla Warkotsch

Patient Experience Consultant – Interior Health

Karla Warkotsch

The question I like to ask health care employees is ‘Who is this for?’ and ‘Do we have the right people at the table?’ As a health care employee, I see how easy it is to fall into doing for, rather than doing with patients. The voices of the patient, family and caregiver are essential to ensure the patient is central to the direction and focus of the work being done.