Member, Skunkworks: Hacking Wounds Event Advisory Team – Providence Research

There is no RSVP for this opportunity. Please email Jami at jbrown@bcpsqc.ca if you are interested.

Volunteer Opportunity
Addressing the needs of patients impacted by wounds (for the purposes of our event, wounds are defined as “injury to living tissue where the skin integrity is interrupted”), seeking their collective thoughts and bold ideas. The team at the Providence Research are seeking two patient partners to be a part of this exciting event to bring together thought leaders to think outside the box about how to help patients impacted by wounds.

Lead Organization/Department
Research Unit – Providence Health Care

Aim
• To promote and inspire a culture of innovation through identifying new ideas (concepts, methods, interventions) that shift current research and/or clinical practice in wound prevention and treatment; And/or ideas/solutions that have a strong community /social impact focus.
• Patient partners will ensure that the event is designed with patients, families and caregivers at its core through sharing their ideas and experience with wounds, helping with planning and implementation of Skunkworks: Hacking Wounds.

Level of Engagement
This opportunity is at the level of involve on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will involve patients in planning and design phases to ensure ideas or concerns are considered and reflected in alternatives and recommendations.

 Eligibility
Open to volunteers in the Lower Mainland who:
• Have experienced or have family members that have been impacted by wounds and have had it treated in our health care system.
• Slow or non-healing wounds usually need treatment; they can be result of conditions such as diabetes, poor blood flow in the legs, neurological or sensory deficits. Wound related conditions include:
– Venous leg ulcers, surgical wounds, skin tears, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries
• Are comfortable telling their story
• Have experience with small groups
• Can meet using Zoom

The team would be excited to have an indigenous patient partner join the team to share their experience to help ensure that the event reflects what’s important to indigenous patient partners in BC.

There will be an informal conversation about the opportunity and determination of the best fit for both patient and health care partners prior to placement.

Logistics
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Date/Time: To be determined with the patient partner and event planning team. Start time would be estimated to be end of February to early March
• Commitment: About 1 to 1.5 hours each meeting; estimated 4 meetings with some reading prior to meetings via email, from Feb/March to August. The Skunkworks event date to be determined, will be around mid September 2022.
• Location: Virtual, via zoom.

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.

Background
Skunkworks is an event that applies rapid innovation to health and care settings through using a shared approach to a problem. It will seek bold ideas to address patients who have been impacted by wounds. The ideas can address the prevention and management of wound related conditions.

Providence Research hosted the inaugural Skunkworks last November 2021 on pain, and it brought together researchers, clinicians, academic partners, patients/residents, and the community at large to discuss how to address the problem of pain creatively and through working together.

This second Skunkworks focuses on wounds as this is a problem that has local relevance and global impact. According to the Wounds Canada, many types of wounds are preventable, and efforts in prevention are more cost-effective than waiting until treatment is required. They also note that the personal and societal costs are significant as well.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Jami Brown | BA, MAPC (she/her/hers)
Engagement Leader
BC Patient Safety & Quality Council
604.510.0449
jbrown@bcpsqc.ca