Member, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Local Quality Operations Committee

Pull up a chair and join a dynamic new committee of managerial and physician leaders at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NGRH) that is working to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of patient care. This is an opportunity for those in the region to contribute the patient perspective and be directly involved in influencing decisions about the improvement of health services at NRGH and the surrounding community.

Open to: Patient partners from Nanaimo & surrounding area

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health / Clinical Operations at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

Aim

The NRGH Local Quality Operations Committee (LQOC) is part of the Island Health Quality Structure. The LQOC is in place to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of patient care operations, while supporting the wellbeing and success of the caregivers working within NRGH. The committee meets once a month to review adverse patient events, discuss quality matters, identify areas of improvement and create working groups for local initiatives at NRGH and the Nanaimo community. The LQOC is seeking patient partners to join the committee, to share their experience(s) of care in the hospital and/or the community, in the spirit of improving the delivery of patient care. The patient partners’ role is to participate in discussions and help the LQOC better understand and consider the perspectives of patients, families and communities to ensure that those priorities are reflected in the committee’s decisions.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate (at a local community or program level) on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will look to you for advice in decision making, developing alternatives, and solutions and include your recommendations into the decision as much as possible.

Eligibility

• Lives within the Nanaimo Regional District
• Has experience of health services within Island Health (as a patient or family-member), preferably at NRGH
• Is comfortable sharing patient experiences in a group setting for the purposes of learning and quality improvement
• Is a skilled listener who is respectful of a broad range of views
• Has previous experience as part of committee or quality improvement project is an asset, but is not required
• Has links to local agencies, networks or communities to inform a broad perspective is an asset, but is not required

Please note: this opportunity is not open to individuals who are currently employed by Island Health. Applicants should 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 Ryan Sidorchuk directly to see if accommodations may be possible. The placement process for this opportunity may include an informal interview between the patient partner and the committee chairs.

Logistics

Number of vacancies: 2 Date/Time: Monthly meetings, first Monday of the month (second Monday where a stat falls on the first Monday), from 4:00-6:00 PM. Note: In addition to attendance at meetings, patient partners will be asked to review meeting materials prior to meetings (anticipated time to review: 1-2 hours). Location: Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.  In person participation is preferred; however, participation via phone can be arranged if required. Commitment: 1 year with the possibility of extension.

Reimbursement

Pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses to participate in meetings such as mileage, parking and public transit will be reimbursed by Island Health.  Coffee provided.

Background

The Island Health Quality System brings together the efforts of clinical staff, leaders, site and program quality councils, and medical advisory and quality assurance committees to ensure a streamlined and integrated approach to improving care and safety across all levels of the organization. It provides the framework for enhancing organizational learning opportunities, building improvement capacity internally and clearer accountability for quality activities and issues in Island Health. The Quality System is comprised of various geographic and program-specific councils, committees and subcommittees across the health authority.  More information on Island Health’s Quality System is available online. The NRGH LQOC committee was formed in April 2018.  Through the co-chairs, it reports up to the Geography 2 Quality Council.  It also has ties to the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee and the Island Health Quality Operations Committee.  Membership of the NRGH LQOC includes: facility administrators, clinical managers, medical directors, etc.  It is co-chaired by the NRGH Director, Clinical Operations and Site Medical Director.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Ryan Sidorchuk
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Central & North Vancouver Island
250.951.4850
rsidorchuk@bcpsqc.ca