Member, Island Health Policy Governance Council

Volunteer Opportunity
Do you see the importance of policy in improving health and care for others? Are you passionate about having patient voices as part of policy development and governance? We are seeking patient partners to join our Policy Governance Council, to help us drive improvement through policy governance in alignment with Island Health’s Policy Framework.

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Lead Organization/Department
Island Health, Policy Stewardship Office

Aim
Patient partners who join the Policy Governance Council will:
• Bring your lived experiences and expertise in helping to ensure patient and family perspectives are considered;
• Identify barriers or challenges that may impact patients and families in the context of policy governance;
• Help to ensure adherence to Island Health’s policy framework; and
• Provide guidance to support the adoption of standardized, evidence-based approaches in development of policies and resources.

Please note this position will focus on effective governance of policy from an organization level – you will not be asked to contribute directly to policy content development. The discussions you will have on this Council will focus on processes, such as how policy documents are developed across the organization and ensuring rigour in policy development. The Council is looking forward to having patient partners commit to being part of these important conversations.

Level of Engagement
This opportunity is at the level of consult on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will listen to and acknowledge your ideas and concerns, and provide feedback on how your input affected the decision.

Eligibility
• Open to patient partners from: Vancouver Island region.
• Recognition of the importance of, and interest or passion in, the use of policy to improve health and care for others.
• Comfortable with speaking in a group setting and voicing your opinions.
• Familiarity with policy development and implementation, systems and/or processes is considered an asset but not a requirement.
• Please note:
– This opportunity, as with all Island Health patient engagement opportunities, is not open to Island Health staff members or patient partners who are currently employed by Island Health. If you have questions regarding this, please email patient.experience@islandhealth.ca
– 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 Charmaine Niebergall directly to see if accommodations may be possible.

Logistics
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Date/Time: Every other month, six times a year for two hours (additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chair)
– Currently meetings are held on Mondays, mid-month from 2pm – 4pm
– Next meetings are Monday, November 15, 2021 and Monday, January 17, 2022
• Location: Virtually using videoconferencing, such as Zoom
• Commitment: 6 meetings a year, 1-2 year commitment, and additional time for reviewing materials in advance

Reimbursement
As meetings are expected to primarily take place via video conferencing, expenses related to travel are not expected to be incurred by the patient partner. Any other expenses incurred as a result from participating in the Policy Governance Council may be considered for reimbursement as needed.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, but have concerns about your ability to participate, please contact cneibergall@bcpsqc.ca to discuss what support options may be needed. Partners are always seeking to better understand and reduce barriers to participation.

Background
The purpose of the Island Health Policy Governance Council is to provide oversight and direction on Island Health’s Policy Framework, and to ensure the framework is used, as intended, across Island Health. Island Health’s Policy Framework enables the adoption of evidenced-based approaches to best practice, supports of safe and quality care, optimizes job satisfaction through clearly articulated standards of practice, and reduces clinical, corporate and strategic risk.

The Policy Governance Council is sponsored and chaired by the Island Health VP responsible for People. Membership is comprised of senior leaders across Island Health who are regularly involved in policy development and stewardship. Members will see their contributions translated into action throughout meetings as work progresses.

The members of the Council are very keen to make sure that patient partners experience a thorough onboarding process and feel welcomed and included. Patient partners will have two key point persons on the Council who will provide support and guidance.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Charmaine Niebergall
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
778.700.2064
cniebergall@bcpsqc.ca