Member, Clearwater Local Collaborative Health Planning Committee

Having primary and community care meet the needs of patients and families with consistency and coordinated access across this geographic region is the goal of the Clearwater Local Collaborative Health Planning Committee. A variety of experiences and voices is needed at the table. We currently have an opening for two patient partners who can provide the patient perspective for this health planning.

Open to: Patient partners in the Clearwater area

Lead Organization or Department

Interior Health - Primary Care

Aim

This committee has been formed to:

• Support partners in recruitment and retention initiatives in the Clearwater catchment area
• Advocate and educate through leading/recommending community engagement
• Identify and address gaps related to community health
• Inform the Interior Rural Collaborative Services Committee on Clearwater catchment area needs through local health services planning

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

• Experience as a PVN Patient Partner
• Ability to commit to the in person meetings for two months
• Ability to collaborate with other stakeholders and previous experience with this
• Knowledge and or experience with primary and community care and with the health care system would be an asset
• Have an interest in sharing their experience and hold an interest in improving health care
• Be enthusiastic about working in partnership with a variety of stakeholders including but  not limited to Health Authority, Divisions of Family Practice, Elected officials, First Nation Health Authority and Local Aboriginal Indigenous Bands plus other stakeholders
• Access to computer and be able to receive and review documents via email to be able to  participate fully in the in person discussions, skills include using programs such as outlook, meeting invites and attached documents

Logistics

Vacancies: 2 Location, date, time and frequency:

• Meetings are held every second month in person at the Clearwater Hospital meeting room for approximately 2 hours
• Most meetings will occur during the evening hours from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
• This request is for a one-year term however may be extended

Reimbursement

Expenses are paid as per the Interior Health Travel Policy and will cover preapproved travel to in person meetings. Such expenses include mileage, parking and or public transit.

Background

At a provincial level, a key to the success of the primary and community care initiative is grassroots, community driven work coming together with provincial policies and systems. As communities plan and implement, there are guiding principles to help ensure success:

• Empower local decision making that responds to the community needs
• Wherever possible, support local conversations at collaborative services committees (CSCs) or Primary Care Network (PCN) Steering Committees to address issues instead of having one partner take their issue to a higher body (ie (GPSC or MOH)
• Enable collaborative decision making between partners
• Be inclusive of all providers and partners, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health, Indigenous peoples, patients and families, and others
• Respect, support and meaningful engagement incorporate feedback is necessary to improve primary care service delivery

Health Care Partner Contact Information

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