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Because your voice matters.

Partnership Impacts

Collaborations between our patient and health care partners are improving the quality of care within BC’s health care system. While we provide some of those partnership impacts in our annual report, we know that you want to know more about the impact you’re making.

These blog posts, videos, podcasts and other resources provide you with stories of inspiration, dedication and collaboration which achieved better health care. We collect these stories through our Closing the Loop Process (CTL) or direct submissions from patient and/or health care partners; they help guide our future work and serve as a meaningful way patient partners receive recognition, feedback and validation for their time and volunteerism. If you want to tell us about your partnership, we have created a checklist to help guide your submission.

We would also be happy to have you write your own article. All submissions will be subject to review and edits, following consultations between you and the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council team. Since writing something from scratch – especially for someone else – can be tricky, we put together a few tips and suggestions to make it easier and faster for you.

Contact us if you’d like to share the story of your engagement opportunity. We’d love to help you tell it!

Comox Valley Primary Care Network

In September 2020, the Ministry of Health announced the creation of a Primary Care Network (PCN) in the Comox Valley as part of the government’s Primary and Community Care Strategy focused on team-based care. The Comox Valley PCN is a partnership between Métis, Inuit and First Nations communities, Island Health,…

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Virtual Psychiatry Consultations

The Shared Care team at Providence Health Care has been connecting with patient partners since the beginning of the Patient Voices Network – 11 years and counting! Since its first engagement in 2010, which resulted in winning a national award for the Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise (RACE) project, the…

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Collaborative Heart Attack Management Program

Timely access to care is always important, and especially so when every passing second adds to a patient’s risk of a negative outcome – as in the case of a heart attack. Sumandeep Dhesi, a cardiologist at Interior Health’s Royal Inland Hospital, recognized that precious time was lost by waiting…

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Patient Engagement in Quality Improvement at Burnaby Hospital

In recent years, as the value of patient engagement has become more widely acknowledged, many organizations and hospitals have created designated staff positions to support and expand the practice in their facilities. At Burnaby Hospital, Ryan MacKay acts as the site’s Coordinator for Quality & Patient Experience by supporting efforts…

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How a Patient Partner Helped Improve Medical Imaging in Kelowna

The staff in the medical imaging department at Kelowna General Hospital knew that the ultrasound experience for both patients and staff could be improved. In the spring of 2018, they held a Rapid Process Improvement Workshop to identify potential improvements. In the workshop, participants identified and worked through rapid…

Continue reading… A photo of Kelowna General Hospital at dusk, with a dark blue sky.
Patient Engagement in Northern Health

Northern Health is learning and growing in its capacity to engage with patient partners. In this blog post, we reflect on our patient engagement experiences with PVN and share key lessons learned. We are pleased with the developments that have occurred and look forward to continuing to grow our…

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Reflecting on the Last 10 Years – Thank you!

This past year marked 10 years since the Patient Voices Network was created and we want to take a moment to thank you for your time and dedication to improving health care in BC! Even though 2020 was a challenging year, we still found ways to mark this special…

Continue reading… PVN Anniversary Banner
Regional Round-Up – December 24

Island Health has continued its patient engagement work by adapting to the virtual environment. If you’re a PVN member from the island, read these tips from the Island Health Patient Experience Team to know what to expect, communicate your needs, feel prepared and ensure your engagement experience is meaningful. Meaningful…

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Sharing Ideas to Improve Primary Care Networks in BC

Throughout BC, the primary health care system is changing – and as part of that change, so are the role of patients, families and caregivers. Through a partnership with the Patient Voices Network (PVN), administered by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (BCPSQC), patients, families and caregivers are…

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From Our Community

Laura Klein

Clinical Practice Consultant in Fraser Health

Laura Klein

Seeking the patient perspective doesn’t have to be complicated; it simply entails a commitment to ask and listen. Patient advisors not only bring a valuable perspective but also share original ideas and unique skills. Including the patient and family perspective changes the conversation and aligns the team’s focus towards common goals.