We connect patients, family members and caregivers with projects led by teams within health authorities, health organizations and non-profits that seek to include patients’ perspectives.
We support patient partners from the moment they sign up through to their engagement opportunity. This includes an orientation, access to resources and initial connection with health care partners to set the foundation for meaningful engagement. Our process helps patient partners be prepared, confident and ready to share their experiences and perspectives on improving the health care system.
Become a Patient Partner
- Fill out our sign-up form. This helps us connect you with health care teams who are seeking patients to engage in their work.
- Take part in an upcoming orientation. This one-hour session provides you with all the information you need to get started, including how PVN works, the kinds of engagement opportunities available, what to expect and how you can help.
- Sign our Patient Partner Commitments form, which ensures that you know the support you can expect from us as well as your responsibilities as a volunteer.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to go!
Access Ongoing Support
We want to make sure you thrive as a patient partner by feeling prepared, confident and ready to share your experiences and views through our engagement opportunities.
To prepare you to have a meaningful impact when participating in engagement opportunities, we regularly look to build your knowledge, understanding and skills in health care improvement by providing learning opportunities, resources and connections.
Apply for Opportunities
Every Tuesday we’ll email you a list of engagement opportunities. When you spot an opportunity that matches your interests and availability, fill out its online RSVP form.
Responses are shared with the health care partner so that they can identify the patient partner that best fits the opportunity’s goals. Everyone who submits an RSVP form will hear back from us, regardless of the selection decision.
Participate
If you’re selected for an opportunity, you’ll work directly with its health care partner. You’ll also have opportunities to ask them questions and seek clarification. This chart highlights what you can expect from the patient partner role. Health care partners who lead opportunities supported through PVN are made aware of their Health Care Partner Commitments.
Receive & Give Feedback
As you partner with health care teams and participate in engagement opportunities, we offer support from the sidelines by providing reminders to patient and health care partners to check-in with one each other about communication needs, the initiative’s progress, and the ongoing experience of working together. Towards the end of each engagement, we will remind health care partners to close the loop with you, so you can see the impact of your involvement. We will also help to facilitate the closing of each engagement through distributing end-of-engagement surveys.
Stay Connected
Here are ways that you, as patient partners, can stay connected to PVN and to each other!
Register for PVN Connections Café*
You’ll receive an email on the 24th of every month introducing you to another PVN patient partner. Then, you can arrange a virtual get-together! This is a social activity, like meeting in a café for a chat. The date, duration and topic of the meeting is up to you!
Attend a Patient Partner Regional Update Meeting (Spring & Fall)*
Hosted over Zoom, meeting topics include news and updates regarding PVN and the work of the BC Patient Safety & Council, which administers PVN. Plus, get updates on what’s happening across your region. It’s an opportunity to meet other PVN patient partners and get to know your Engagement Leader. Check out our events for dates, times and how to register.
Sign Up to Receive the Patient Voice Mail Newsletter
Sent once a month via email, the newsletter highlights new resources, upcoming events and stories about great partnerships.
Follow our social media channels
Stay connected through Twitter and Facebook.
Explore the PVN Website
A one-stop shop for what’s happening in the network, resources, partnership impact stories and much more.
*Only available to oriented patient partners who have signed the commitments document.
