Participant, Ambulance Design Focus Group

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) are interested in hearing your experience of being transported in an ambulance. If you would like to provide feedback to improve ambulance design this could be the opportunity for you!

Open to: Patient partners across the province

Lead Organization or Department

BC Emergency Health Services: Quality, Patient Safety and Accreditation

Aim

BCEHS would like patients and family members to participate in a focus group aimed at looking to improve the layout and design of ambulances. The discussions will primarily focus on themes such as ergonomics, the ease of boarding the ambulance, as well as things like comfort during transportation, air flow, temperature and smoothness of the ride. Direct engagement of patients is needed to truly assess their experiences to improve the design of the ambulance for years to come.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of consult on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will listen to and acknowledge your ideas and concerns, and provide feedback on how your input affected the decision.

Eligibility

Open to patient partners from across the province who:

• Have experience of utilizing the ambulance service for transport, ideally within the last 18-24 months
• Have the ability to recollect the journey and recall details for discussion (pictures will also be shared to help refresh memories)
• Are comfortable providing feedback about the design of the ambulance and the physical space as well as talking about experiences of being transported for care by ambulance in a small group
• Have access to a computer with internet to join a virtual meeting
• Previous participation in a focus group is an asset

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 or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact Cassy Mitchell.

Logistics

• Number of vacancies: 5-15
• Date and Time: 2hr Focus Group sessions will be scheduled in the Summer of 2020
• Location: Via virtual meeting
• Commitment: Participants are requested to attend a one-time focus group session

Reimbursement

No costs are anticipated.

Background

In the last decade, BCEHS has engaged various stakeholders such as paramedics, fleet inspectors, and emergency service technicians in the continuous improvement of the ambulance design. Fleet management examines and incorporates this stakeholder feedback into the documents that make up the RFP (Request for Proposal) that is distributed to ambulance manufacturers. Many of the safety and ergonomic improvements incorporated into the last ambulances were a direct result of the contributions of these stakeholders. Some of the stakeholder suggestions implemented include heated power mirrors, intercom linking the cab and the patient compartment area as well as more ergonomic placement of the patient cot. In the past, feedback from patients, was received indirectly through the paramedics that would convey patient concerns as they recalled them. There was no formalized process to review patient feedback nor was there a direct conduit to this stakeholder group. The addition of this stakeholder group to the continuous improvement of our ambulances is sought to complete the feedback used in advancing the design of the ambulances as it serves the patients.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Cassy Mitchell
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement
250.279.0717
cmitchell@bcpsqc.ca