Patient Advisor, Fraser Health Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Home Health Monitoring Working Group

Providing good quality care in rural and remote communities, through technology, takes a lot of planning to make sure that it meets the needs of those it serves. The COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Home Health Monitoring Working Group is looking for patients who can enthusiastically share their lived experience to help inform the development of the use of technology to support COPD patients, close to home.

Open to: Patient partners in Chilliwack, Hope and surrounding communities

Lead Organization or Department

Telus Health/ Fraser Health Authority

Aim

• The purpose of this FH HHM COPD project is to enhance the existing community based service model to increase service effectiveness, efficiency and capacity to support high-risk patients in the community
• Patients will be engaged, as a partner in all aspects of this program and will be provided an overview of final decisions made
• Patient feedback will be incorporated into the development of the use of technology for COPD Monitoring, from conception, to education and practice.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the research partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

Patient with COPD, or a family caregiver

• Familiarity with common COPD terminology and experience co-managing COPD with a physician or health care provider (discussing symptoms and collaborating on care decisions) will be considered an asset.
• Must live independently (not currently residing in a hospital or residential care facility)

If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Volunteer Agreement, are unsure if your experience is a good fit, please contact Jami Brown directly.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 1-2
• Commitment: Generally 1.5 hour meetings, once a month, with the potential of short, ½ hour pre-readings.
• Commitment: Maximum 6 months.
• Date/Time: To be determined, in consultation with patient advisor availability
• Location: Most meetings will be held via telephone.  Access to a computer is not required but would be helpful to access materials during meetings. If an in person meeting is required, location will be determined, in consultation with the patient partner.

Reimbursement

Preapproved expenses related to travel to in person meetings will be reimbursed according to the Fraser Health Travel policy (including mileage, parking, tolls and/or public transit).

Background

Home Health Monitoring (HHM) is gaining recognition throughout BC as a clinically transformative health service that supports and accelerates transitions to community-based, integrated primary care. The HHM service duration is approximately 12 weeks and enables patients to learn about how to manage their health condition, monitor their symptoms and key measurements each day, and share this information electronically with their monitoring care team. Fraser Health’s (FH) Home Health nurses will utilize TELUS Health’s application to monitor patients with COPD during regular business hours, and respond to HHM system alerts, collaborate with patients to discuss system alerts, reinforce self-management and related action plans, and communicate patient progress and treatment with primary care providers. The purpose of this FH HHM COPD project is to enhance the existing community based service model to increase service effectiveness, efficiency and capacity to support high-risk patients in the community. The objectives for this project are to:

• Improve patient’s understanding of their condition and self-management capacity. • Enable positive patient, clinician interaction through technological communication by patient self-management monitoring interview in a tablet, and biometric readings through Bluetooth devices • Reduce Emergency Department visits, hospital admissions, and health costs for the HHM patient population

Key Outcomes and anticipated benefits from this project can be described as:

• Improved access to COPD services, enhanced understanding of patient’s chronic condition, reduced need for hospital visits and a positive care experience.
• Primary Care providers and specialists benefit with enhanced availability of COPD services. Efficient communication and care coordination between primary care providers and HHM clinician team
• Home Health Monitoring Nurses will have a positive care-provider experiences
• FH’s rural communicates will benefit from increased access to services
• Increase service effectiveness, efficiency and capacity to support high risk COPD patients
• Positive return on investment
• With favourable results, there is intention to expand across 12 communities across Fraser Health

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Jami Brown
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Fraser Valley
604.510.0449
jbrown@bcpsqc.ca