Member, Disclosure Learning and Support Strategy Project Team

Island Health is committed to ensuring that disclosure of patient safety incidents occur in a timely, transparent and supportive manner. An Island Health disclosure working group has recently started developing a learning and support strategy to guide staff and clinicians in these important conversations with patients and families. This is your opportunity to ensure the patient and family perspective is represented in the disclosure materials and education!

Open to: Patient partners across the Island Health region

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health, Quality and Patient Safety Department

Aim

When an unexpected medical outcome occurs, the Disclosure Learning & Support Strategy Working Group aims to address gaps in learning and support Island Health staff to have open, honest and timely communication with patients and/or families. A patient partner perspective is essential to this work, as these conversations often occur during high stress and emotional situations and it’s important that the disclosure happens in a timely and sensitive manner.

Level of Engagement

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

Eligibility

Open to patient partners from the Vancouver Island region who:

• Can speak to and is willing to share lived experience with Island Health Programs and Services, either as a patient, family member or caregiver
• Have an interest in learning about Island Health and building new skills
• Are willing to work as part of a team
• Are available for a regular meeting schedule
• Please note:
  • This opportunity is not open to patient partners who are currently employed by Island Health
  • The placement process for this opportunity may include an informal interview between the volunteer and the health care partner.
  • Applicants must have previously attended a PVN orientation session and completed the Volunteer Agreement. If you have not attended an orientation session but you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Ashley Clark directly to see if accommodations may be possible.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 1-2
• Date/time: First meeting will be April 18. Meeting schedule is bi-weekly, typically 2 hours in duration.
• Location: In-person at Royal Jubilee Hospital (Victoria, BC) or via teleconference
• Commitment: Up to six months, with possibility of extension

Reimbursement

Pre-approved transportation & parking costs to attend meetings will be reimbursed by Island Health.

Background

Patient Safety programs at Island Health are dedicated to supporting care teams to learn from and prevent patient safety incidents in order to improve patient safety across the organization. The principles that underpin our approach to the management and disclosure of patient safety incidents include:

• A safe and just culture encompassing openness, honesty, fairness, and accountability
• Patient- and family-centred care
• Meaningful involvement of patients, families and staff who were directly involved in the incident
• Timely, confidential, and consistent processes
• Reporting and learning for the purpose of improving quality and safety, and
• Restoration of trust and relationships

We have identified a need to improve the care teams’ competencies for disclosure. Developing options for a strategy to meet this need will help us move this work forward.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Ashley Clark
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
250.812.8908
aclark@bcpsqc.ca