Participant, Provincial Virtual Care Strategic Focus Group

Given the significant changes in how people now consume health care services, would you like to work with the Ministry of Health in developing the future vision of virtual care, which is the remote provision of health care using information technology? If yes, this could be the opportunity for you!

Open to: Patient partners across the province

Lead Organization or Department

BC Ministry of Health, Virtual Care Strategy Branch

Aim

Our aim is to ensure our strategic framework for virtual care is inclusive and patient and family centred, reflecting patient and family members perspectives on empowerment and virtual care. The Virtual Care Strategy Branch is developing a strategic framework to provide a core set of standards, guidelines, policies and governance tools that will provide provincial direction on and support for the enhanced use of virtual care in British Columbia. Virtual care is defined as the direct delivery of care between a patient and a provider, or communication between providers regarding the care of a patient, at distance using information and communication technology; this includes, but is not limited to video conferencing, telephone, text, and email e.g. HealthLink BC (formerly known as the nurse line).

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 across the province who:

• Are comfortable working in groups with other patient partners
• Are comfortable with the use of WebEx/teleconference
• We are looking for a representative sample of patients from each health authority as we would like to ensure rural/remote representation.

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 Cassy Mitchell.

Logistics

• Number of vacancies: Unlimited
• Date and Time: Focus groups are set to take place the week of December 9-13, 2019. Each focus group will last approximately two hours.
• Location: Via WebEx/teleconference
• Commitment: One time

Reimbursement

As this engagement opportunity is taking place via WebEx/teleconference no expenses are anticipated.

Background

Virtual care is integral to the future of health care in British Columbia. The use of virtual care is expected to substantively expand to meet the changing preferences of residents of the province, the proliferation of technological options, and shifting workforce characteristics, as well as to address the challenges of providing care. As the province moves towards models of integrated patient care, a provincial perspective is required to satisfy both patient-driven preferences and clinical objectives, as well as to address an ever-increasing set of technology and care options. The provincial perspective will ensure that, as we modernize our health care system, those technology and care options will be incorporated into the health care system in a planned and managed way. Content for the framework was informed by a review of domestic and international sources, focusing on jurisdictions with mature approaches to delivering virtual care (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, Northern Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States). The evidence strongly indicates that virtual care can improve access to high-quality health care by overcoming barriers to health services caused by physical distance between patients and health care providers, the need for travel and the lack of available providers. The evidence also shows that virtual care can improve quality and continuity of care, increase providers' satisfaction in their work and support patient empowerment. It has the potential to facilitate more equitable health care delivery for underserved communities and deliver time and cost efficiencies for patients, providers and the health care system. Components of the framework were discussed with key stakeholders to include a wide breadth of BC-specific experiences and expertise.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Cassy Mitchell
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Northern Interior
250.279.0717
cmitchell@bcpsqc.ca