Participant, The Medical Assistance in Dying Simulation Knowledge Translation Project

Do you have an interest in helping to improve the public and health professional understanding about Medically Assisted Dying (MAiD)? Would you be interested in participating on a stakeholder committee and providing input into a simulation event to be offered in a public setting in early spring? If so, read on!

Open to: Patient partners on Vancouver Island

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health/Centre for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Learning (UBC and UVIC partners)

Aim

The aim of our Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Simulation Knowledge Translation Project is to create a venue to provide education for the public and health professionals about this new end of life option. As we develop the materials, we would like to have a patient voice that helps inform our process, content and language. The patient partner would attend one or two meetings and offer comment on materials via email. Participation on the project’s stakeholder committee also provides an important service of contributing a patient perspective to the development and provision of services provided by the Simulation Center and the MAiD Program at Island Health.

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

• We are looking for a person who is comfortable talking about, and has life experience with, the dying process. You may or may not have had experience with Medical Assistance in Dying.
• The role of the patient advisor will include contributing to positive, open discussion with stakeholder committee members, reflecting on insights from personal experience, with a focus on how these may inform positive change for clients and families in the future.
• This invitation is being extended to family members with an interest in this topic, who are willing to volunteer their time, and are:

- Comfortable with participating within committees and working groups; - familiar with basic principles of change management; - comfortable exploring, sharing and learning about the patient care journeys and services that the MAiD program supports; - able to share knowledge from lived experience and learning to constructively partner in improving the big picture; and - willing to bring a unique view to the table as a representative of the patient / client and family community. If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Volunteer Agreement, are unsure if your experience is a good fit or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact Ryan Sidorchuk directly.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 1
• Format: As part of the working group/committee, be able to meet in person in Victoria approximately twice between February and May 2018. There may be some email contact. The patient partner would be invited to attend the actual simulation event and may be asked for input on written materials (brochures or advertisements) via email. Teleconference meetings in-between the in-person meetings may also be required.
• Commitment: Approximately 6 months

Reimbursement

Mileage and parking to attend the meetings will be reimbursed.

Background

There is a demand for information about the new legislation around assisted dying, and this collaborative opportunity arose as a way to bring together community and health care in a unique and creative Knowledge Translation event. This is a collaboration between Island Health and the Centre for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Learning (UBC and UVIC partners). Potential risks: emotional engagement with subject matter. Potential partners should consider themselves to be in a stage of healing in the grieving process in line with being able to speak about the experience. We aim to mitigate any risk by meeting in person, being sensitive and supportive, and being available at any time. We also have a 24/7 crisis line: 1-888-494-3888.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

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