Member, Island Health Patient Advisory Council (PAC)

Island Health is seeking patient partners who would like to join the Island Health Patient Advisory Council (PAC) to help ground us in our vision of excellent health and care for everyone, everywhere, every time.

Open to: Patient partners across the Island Health region

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health, Experience Program

Aim

• Drawing from their lived experience, Patient Advisory Council (PAC) members have an integral role in grounding Island Health in the human experience of health care. The PAC works collaboratively with Island Health leadership to influence strategic system, program and service improvements by providing input, advice, and guidance. • As a member of the Patient Advisory Council, you can share your experiences and ideas and provide recommendations to help shape improvement to patient experience and care delivery.

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 patient partners from the Island Health region • Have received care from Island Health within the last 5 years, or have supported a family member/loved one who has received care from Island Health within the last 5 years • Can work respectfully in partnership with a variety of other people, including patient, family members, and health care team leaders/members • Can share ideas and experience in a positive way • Can draw on their personal health care experience to influence a system that serves large numbers of people with diverse needs We are seeking people who represent a variety of perspectives, which may include but are not limited to geography/neighbourhood, culture, ethic or national origin, marital status, age, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, income variety, education, work experience, genetic characteristics, family status, disability, and/or experiences with health challenges or health care. The composition of the PAC is guided by the desire to learn from lived experience and to share perspectives from across a broad demographic balance. • Please note:

• This opportunity is not open to patient partners who are currently employed by Island Health
• The placement process for this opportunity may include an informal interview between the volunteer and the health care partner.
• Applicants must have previously attended a PVN orientation session and completed the Volunteer Agreement. If you have not attended an orientation session but you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Ashley Clark directly to see if accommodations may be possible.

Logistics

• Number of vacancies: 6-8 • Date/Time: Meetings are on the fourth Friday of every month, excluding August and December (total of 10 meetings per year). Each meeting will be two hours in duration (from 10am to 12pm). • Based on the needs of members, shifting the day and time of PAC meetings may be considered. • Location: Meetings are virtual (using Zoom) or by teleconference depending on the specific needs of members.

• Due to COVID-19, the PAC is currently meeting virtually via Zoom. In the future, and with the guidance of the BC Provincial Health Officer, in-person meetings may be considered as well. However, attending in-person meetings is also a personal choice – there will still be an option to attend virtually when in-person meetings begin.

• Commitment: Two-year term with the possibility of renewal.

• PAC members must commit 4-6 hours each month to prepare for and attend at least 7 meetings per year.
• PAC members spend 1-2 hours per month on pre-reading materials in preparation for meetings and approximately 1 hour per month revewing minutes and action items following meetings.
• In order to keep projects moving forward, PAC members also provide timely feedback as requested in between meetings.

Reimbursement

PAC-related pre-approved expenses, such as mileage, parking, and accommodations, will be reimbursed by Island Health (according to Island Health Policies) should the PAC return to an in-person meeting format.

Background

Created in 2008, the PAC is a formal group made up of volunteer patients and family members and Island Health staff and physicians from across the geographical area served by Island Health. Together, they work to bring rich life and work experience and personal perspectives to our health care system.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Ashley Clark
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
250.812.8908
aclark@bcpsqc.ca