Member, Western Communities Primary Care Network (PCN) Steering Committee

Would you like to be involved in shaping the future of integrated health care in the Western Communities? Patient voices are needed for the newly created Steering Committee – a partnership between Island Health, Divisions of Family Practice, local physicians, and other community providers to provide enhanced primary care services to meet the growing needs of the community.

Open to: Patient partners from the Western Communities: Sooke, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, etc.

Aim

The Ministry of Health is introducing Primary Care Networks (PCN) across the province. These integrated systems of care will network family doctors, health authority programs and community health services to work together to provide care that is accessible, appropriate, acceptable, and efficient to enhance care outcomes and experiences for patients and care givers. Patient engagement is essential as this integrated care system is being created to better serve patient needs so their voice and experience is critical in shaping the system. The patient partner will be a member of the Steering Committee and invited to participate in working groups (optional), where they will contribute to the planning and implementation of the PCN’s work to redefine and improve the way primary care services are designed and delivered in the Western Communities.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the research partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

• Connections to the Western Communities (Sooke, Metchosin, Langford, Colwood, etc.).
• Comfortable participating in a group setting, and sharing patient experiences and perspectives to help the group understand the impact of decisions on patients, families and the public.
• The following skills/experiences would be helpful, but are not necessary:
  • Experience working with senior health leaders and/or working under politically challenging circumstances
  • Knowledge of primary health care service delivery
• Not open to patient partners who are currently employed by Island Health
• Patient partners should have previously attended a PVN orientation session.  If you have not attended an orientation but are interested please contact Kira Tozer directly to see if accommodations may be possible.
• Note: The placement process for this opportunity may include an informal interview between the volunteer and the health care partner.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 2
• Date/Time:   Meetings are yet to be determined but will likely be held on a monthly basis and last 1.5-2 hours.
• The first steering committee meeting is scheduled for April 27 – due to tight timelines, patient partners can plan to attend the meeting in late May ( date TBD).
• Location: Esquimalt Westshore Health Unit and other locations, TBD.   The preference is for patient partners to attend in person.  Should that not be possible, teleconference is an option.
• Commitment: 1 year term, possibility of extending. Please note: patient partners will also be invited to participate in related working groups that have yet to be defined - meeting frequency TBD.  While patient partners are welcome to participate in these working groups if they so choose, the current ask/commitment is only for the Steering Committee as outlined above.

Reimbursement

Pre-approved expenses associated with mileage, transit & parking to attend in-person meetings will be reimbursed by Island Health.

Background

Primary Care Networks are an initiative of the Ministry of Health, and are being rolled out throughout the province in waves.  Stakeholders include the regional health authorities, the First Nations Health Authority and local first nations, the Divisions of Family Practice, and the General Practice Services Committee (GPSC), and patient representatives. For more information on Primary Care Networks, this General Policy Direction Overview has been provided for reference.  Additional information on Primary Care Networks and Patient Medical Homes is available online.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Kira Tozer
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
250.888.4525
ktozer@bcpsqc.ca