Participant, Cowichan Valley Health & Care Plan Focus Groups

Island Health is looking to engage patient partners and family caregivers to learn how we can improve services and care for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, frail individuals, and people needing palliative or end-of-life care.

Open to: Patient partners in the Cowichan Valley area

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Lead Organization or Department

Island Health, Cowichan Valley Health & Care Plan

Aim

Island Health is interested in working with both patient and service partners to improve health services and care in the region. As a patient or family caregiver, you can help by sharing your experiences and letting us know what went well, what could be improved and provide suggestions for future service changes. Participants will be invited to attend one half-day session, with the potential for future engagement opportunities.

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 in the Cowichan Valley area
• Lived experience as a patient or family member navigating or accessing health services for any of the following patient groups:
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Frail individuals – includes people whose health and safety may be at risk due to the complexity of their illness, age or other environmental factors, as well as people with multiple chronic health conditions.
  • People needing palliative or end-of-life care
• Experience and comfort working in small groups
• Comfort telling your story
• Please note:
  • This opportunity is not open to community members currently employed by Island Health
  • Applicants must attend a PVN orientation session and complete 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: 5 per topic (15 total)
• Date/time: October, 2019 (TBD)
• Location: Duncan, BC (location to be confirmed)
• Commitment: One-time

Reimbursement

If transportation costs are a barrier to your participation, please enquire about pre-approved transportation reimbursement . No parking costs are anticipated and refreshments will be provided during the engagement session.

Background

In 2018, the provincial government approved Island Health’s concept plan to replace Cowichan District Hospital. Island Health is now preparing a detailed business plan in collaboration with community members, patient partners, clinical and non-clinical staff, physicians, local First Nations and numerous community partners and organizations. The business plan will be submitted to the province in the coming months for approval and funding to proceed with a replacement hospital. The business plan establishes the service model solution and cost for the proposed hospital, and is the second phase of the capital planning process. Planning and construction for a new facility is a five-phase process that will take place over several years. The hospital is a critical component of health and care services but there is a wide range of primary care, community care, health promotion and long-term care services available to support peoples’ health and wellness. As Island Health plans for a replacement hospital in the Cowichan Valley, we are looking at the overall system of health and care, both now, and into the future.  We know there is more that can be undertaken to help keep people healthy in their homes and with family. The Cowichan Valley Health & Care Plan represents Island Health’s committment to working in partnership with the community to strengthen health supports and integrate health services and care. Through this work, we aim to create a system that is easy to navigate and helps people to enjoy better health and avoid a hospital stay whenever possible.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

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

Interested?

This opportunity will be open until it is filled.

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