Member, Actively Dying Protocol Implementation Committee, Fraser Health Palliative Program

The right to have a supported death in hospital is an important topic in today’s health care system. Many patients and families are faced with this difficult situation and seek to receive counsel and support from health care providers during this time. It is with this in mind that the Fraser Health Palliative Care Program is reaching out to patient partners to assist them with implementing a protocol that represents patient and family input and can have a positive impact during this challenging time.

Open to: Patient partners in Fraser Health communities

Lead Organization or Department

Fraser Health Palliative Care Program

Aim

To provide patient input into training and support for health care providers through an enhanced protocol for actively dying in hospital.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of involve on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will involve patients in planning and design phases to ensure ideas or concerns are considered and reflected in alternatives and recommendations.

Eligibility

• Patient partners from Fraser Health Communities who have experienced a friend or family member passing away in hospital.

If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Volunteer Agreement, are unsure if your experience is a good fit or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact the engagement leader directly.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 2
• Date/time: To be determined, based on availability.
• Commitment: 1-2 hours, once a month; one-year term, with an opportunity to extend up to two years.
• Location: Combination of in-person and teleconference. Central City, Surrey

Reimbursement

Preapproved expenses related to travel to in person meetings will be reimbursed according to the Fraser Health Travel policy (including mileage, parking, tolls and/or public transit).

Background

• Why has this opportunity come about?

Currently, on most hospital units, physicians and nurses are trained to treat patients, but when a patient comes to the hospital and is at the end of his/her life, the care plan often is not adjusted. At times the death comes as a surprise, leaving families thinking that more could have been done to ‘save’ their loved one. Appropriately identifying the signs of death, having conversations with the family and/or the patient about spiritual needs, and changing medication from cure to ‘comfort’ are some of the examples of what would be different for a dying patient. The Palliative Program has recently completed the actively dying protocol and pre-printed order (PPO). The PPO outlines guidelines for health care providers to recognize and effectively support a patient that is dying naturally within hospital. Next steps include putting this protocol into all hospitals across Fraser Health. The intention is to train health care providers to recognize and have the appropriate tools available to support and care for patients who are dying in hospital.

• Who else will be involved?

The committee will have representatives from Advanced Care Planning, social work, physicians, nursing, spiritual care and pharmacy, from small and large hospitals, across Fraser Health.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Jami Brown
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Fraser Valley
604.510.0449
jbrown@bcpsqc.ca