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Because your voice matters.

Community Member, Interior Health Research Ethics Board

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Open to Interior Region, Patient partners in the Interior Health region

Last updated

Interior Health has an opening for two patient partner community members on their Research Ethics Board. The board meets monthly to review medical and social science research and ensure that the rights of research participants, who are often patients, are protected and respected.

Open to: Patient partners in the Interior Health region

Lead Organization or Department

Interior Health - Research Ethics Board

Aim

The Research Ethics Board provides independent multi-disciplinary ethical review of human research involving Interior Health (IH) facilities or programs; conducted by IH staff or medical staff; or involving IH staff, students, patients or persons in care as participants. The patient partner fills a critical role as a member of the community who is not formally affiliated with IH (e.g. as a staff member or physician). The primary role of the community member is to reflect the perspective of the research participant.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

  • An interest in and understanding of health research
  • It is expected that the patient partner will attend the monthly meetings and participate in the ethical review of research projects
  • No current affiliation with Interior Health
  • Live anywhere within the Interior Health region

Logistics

Vacancies: 2 Location, date, time and frequency:
  • The board meets on the first Thursday of each month, from 7:30 am to 9:00 am, except for August.
  • Meetings are held in-person or via teleconference and an internet-based meeting platform (WebEx).
  • Those who are able to meet in Kelowna are invited to join in person at the Community Health Services Centre.
  • The term for this position is expected to be for over a year

Reimbursement

Expenses such as mileage will be offered for travel from out of town; pre-approval is required. Free parking is available during the meeting time period (until 9:00 a.m. weekdays).

Background

This opportunity has arisen due to the retirement of two long-standing community members in the past year. Currently there are 14 standing members and 8 substitute members on the board, representing a wide variety of disciplines. The board is looking to appoint one standing member, suitable for someone who can attend the majority of the meetings during the year, and one substitute member. Members are appointed by the IH President & CEO upon recommendation by the REB Chair. Risks associated with this work are minimal and members are covered under the Health Authority's insurance for any liability arising from the work of the board. Decisions are made by the board as a whole, not by individuals, further minimizing liability. The IH REB reviews research pertaining to all varieties of care settings including acute and primary care, long-term care, community care, and outreach programs. In addition, we participate in the ethical review of research that takes place at multiple sites in the province of BC and may include Population Health research, Health Systems & Services research, or Clinical research. Please see the attached Terms of Reference for further details.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Carol Stathers
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Okanagan, Interior Region
778.516.3308
cstathers@bcpsqc.ca

From Our Community

Karla Warkotsch

Patient Experience Consultant – Interior Health

Karla Warkotsch

The question I like to ask health care employees is ‘Who is this for?’ and ‘Do we have the right people at the table?’ As a health care employee, I see how easy it is to fall into doing for, rather than doing with patients. The voices of the patient, family and caregiver are essential to ensure the patient is central to the direction and focus of the work being done.