Posted • Last updated
Closed
Commitment: Long-term
Connection method: Virtual
Open to Fraser Valley & Lower Mainland
Last updated
Volunteer Opportunity
Treating all members of society with dignity and respect when receiving health care is a sign of an exemplary health care organization. Fraser Health is seeking four to six patient advisors to help them plan, implement and coordinate system-wide improvements to their gender inclusive strategy.
Lead Organization/Department
Fraser Health
Aim
• To strengthen our commitment to providing safe and compassionate care to all members of our community by creating a gender inclusive strategy for Fraser Health
• As a patient advisor, you can expect to:
– Give input, feedback and collaborate on how Fraser Health implements and measures improvements.
– Review, give feedback and collaborate on communication materials intended for people who are Transgender, Non-Binary, and Two-Spirit.
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
Open to volunteers from across Fraser Health who:
• Have familiarity with gender inclusivity and health care
• Are experienced working in a group setting
• Are comfortable sharing their experiences and in virtual meetings
If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Patient Partner Commitment, are unsure if your experience is a good fit, please contact Jami Brown directly.
There will be an informal conversation about the opportunity. The goal is to find the best fit for all involved.
Logistics
• Number of vacancies: 4-6
• Date/Time: The Steering Committee and Shared Work Teams (Employee Education and Washroom/Change Room Policy) each meet virtually once a month and plan to for about 6 more months between 9 am and 4 pm on weekdays.
• Commitment: 7 months to one-year. The meetings will last between 1 to 1.5 hours. There may be an opportunity to have in-person meetings, in future.
• Location: Virtual, using MS Teams, with possible in person meetings during the year.
Reimbursement
No out-of-pocket expenses are anticipated for this engagement opportunity. However, if you meet the eligibility criteria, but have concerns about your ability to participate, please contact Jami Brown- jbrown@bcpsqc.ca to see if support options are available. We are always seeking to better understand and reduce barriers to participation. As a funded project, recognition for time will be provided according to the health care partners’ policies. Details will be shared with those interested directly.
Background
Having patient advisors involved in this work is a critical part to its success. The hope is to create a culture that is inclusive, safe and respectful of the diverse community that Fraser Health serves. Having representation from the community to help us ensure that we are focusing our efforts appropriately.
From September 2019 to February 2020, we gathered experiences from patients, staff and volunteers who are Transgender, Non-Binary, and Two-Spirit. People shared their challenges in both getting care and working in Fraser Health. From this, we identified eight different changes that could make our organization more gender inclusive. BC SUPPORT Unit Fraser Centre fund this project.
There are currently two patient advisors on the Steering Committee and Shared Work Teams along with various health care partners across Fraser Health. All service areas of Fraser Health.
Due to the sensitivity of the content discussed, the Ethics team will facilitate conversations with the foundations of respect, defined as: treating each other kindly, gently and well; listening to understand another’s perspective; and coming to engage.
