Because your voice matters.

Medical Marihuana in Acute Care Draft Policy Review

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Open to Interior Region, Volunteers in the Interior Health region

Last updated

This opportunity has flexible participation times!!  New health care regulations have come into effect that allow for continued use of medical marihuana (cannabis for medical purposes) in acute care facilities. Interior Health is in the process of developing a policy to guide health care providers and patients in situations where this may occur. Patient Voices Network has been involved in the development of the draft policy and Interior Health is looking for further input from patients on this draft policy.

Open to: Volunteers in the Interior Health region

Lead Organization or Department

Interior Health (IH)

Aim

The goal is to develop a policy and supporting materials to guide physicians and staff in managing patients who may want to use medical marihuana while in hospital.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of involve on the spectrum of engagement (www.iap2.org). The promise to you is that the health care partner will work with you to ensure that your ideas and concerns are reflected in recommendations and provide feedback on how your input affected the decision.

Eligibility

  • Open to volunteers from across the Interior Health region
  • Interest in policy development or understanding of professional regulations, as the policy will guide physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and hospital staff
  • Experience with medical marihuana may be an asset but not required
  • Patients should have previously attended a PVN orientation session. If you have not attended an orientation but are interested please contact the engagement leader directly to see if accommodations may be possible
  • If you feel you have limited experience but are interested, we welcome you to RSVP

Logistics

  • Unlimited Vacancies
  • Provide written feedback by email on the draft policy by January 26.

Background

  • Patients have access to medical marihuana (MM) as outlined by Health Canada. Current regulations do not allow hospital staff (nurses, pharmacists) to handle MM for patients who are using it. New Health Canada regulations came into effect on August 24 permitting continued use of MM while in acute care facilities.
  • A team has been working on gathering background information on the topic of MM use in hospitals. A small working group of 5-6 IH employees and physicians and patients have been involved in the policy development.

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.

Members of the BCPSQC pose for a team photo at the Quality Forum 2019.

Health Quality BC administers the Patient Voices Network. Using evidence-informed strategies, the Council shifts culture, improves clinical practice and advances person- and family-centred care to support high-quality care for every person in our province.