Reviewer, Victoria Hospice Family-Centred Information for Caregivers

Victoria Hospice is developing new ways for distributing information about end-of-life issues for patients and their caregivers. They are looking for up to two patient partners from the region to review the content!

Open to: Patient partners in the Greater Victoria area

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health, Victoria Hospice

Aim

Victoria Hospice receives a large number of calls in which patients and/or caregivers request information that could be more readily available to them. By providing an overview of specific topics in an info-flip format (see link in Background section) and in an app, we are hoping to address accessibility to general information and avoid information overload at the initial session. The patient partner will contribute to reviewing the content to make it applicable and helpful for patients and caregivers.

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 Greater Victoria area
• Experience (personal or family) receiving end-of-life care would be an asset
• Experience accessing services either as a patient or a formal or informal caregiver of an aging person
• 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: 2
• Date/time: We anticipate approximately 2-3 meetings, including a focus group meeting, between February and October
  • February: reviewing content
  • February: consult on final content
  • October: feedback on process
• Location: Victoria Hospice at Royal Jubilee Hospital and/or Victoria Hospice Community Centre in Royal Oak, Saanich
• Commitment: Seven months to a year

Reimbursement

Pre-approved transportation & parking costs (receipt required) to attend meetings will be reimbursed.Reimbursement can take up to four weeks.

Background

At Victoria Hospice (VH), patients and their caregivers receive a binder with information and resources. Questions posed to VH staff show that the information does not have the intended reach. In order to improve access to the available information, we plan to make the information more readily available to patients and their caregivers. Victoria Hospice clinical staff, Volunteer Services and the Education and Research Department will develop two information sources, Info-flips (specifically designed brochures that can replace a 40 – 50 page manual) and an App, which will summarize important topics and link people to locally available resources. Our solution has the potential to address much of the general information needs of informal caregivers about end-of-life care. This may impact their ability to provide care in the home setting, helping to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and contribute to informal caregivers’ own well being. Our patient partners will contribute to ensuring the content is most useful for patients and their caregivers. The focus group will include representatives from Victoria Hospice nursing, psychosocial and medical departments, Education and Research department, Victoria Hospice patient partners and members of the public.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

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