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Participants, Patient Journey Mapping – In-Patient Chemotherapy

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Open to Vancouver Island Region, Patient partners in the Island Health region

Last updated

Chemotherapy care has changed dramatically in recent years and so must our approach! If you or someone you care for has been admitted to the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s 8South for chemotherapy, then Island Health and the BC Cancer Agency need your expertise to improve the patient experience of care.

Open to: Patient partners in the Island Health region

Lead Organization or Department

Royal Jubilee Hospital(RJH) Clinical Operations, Island Health

Aim

As a participant in the two-day patient journey mapping session, patient and family members will join clinicians and administrators to document the patient journey, beginning at the time the patient is advised by a physician that they need in-patient chemotherapy until treatment is complete. Patient and family members will be invited to share their lived experiences related to the various stages and transitions of cancer care provided by Island Health and BC Cancer Agency. This will assist the group to more fully understand how existing processes and changes might be improved to positively impact the patient experience of care.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of consult on the spectrum of engagement (www.iap2.org). 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

  • Experience receiving cancer care or supporting a family member or friend undergoing chemotherapy on 8South at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
  • Comfortable sharing lived experiences related to cancer care and willing to help the group (of approximately 20 people) understand how existing processes or changes to services might impact patients and families.
  • 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 Leah Smith directly.

Logistics

  • Vacancies: Up to 3
  • Date: All-day meetings to be held on: Monday, September 11, and Tuesday, September 12. We encourage you to RSVP even if you are not able to attend both days!
  • Time: To be confirmed, but likely scheduled between 9 am and 4 pm.
  • Orientation: Patient partners will be invited to attend a half an hour orientation call in preparation for the session.
  • Location: BC Cancer Agency, 2410 Lee Ave, Victoria. The meeting room will have space for participants to move and change positions frequently.
  • Commitment: 2 days.
  • Other: Lunch and light refreshments will be provided at breaks throughout the day.

Reimbursement

A parking pass will be provided for each session. Travel to Victoria from anywhere on the island (mileage) can be reimbursed within a month. Other pre-approved expenses may also be considered.

Background

Chemotherapy care has changed dramatically in recent years. People are having more treatments and many of the medications now require a hospital admission so that specialized nursing and physician care is available while the medication is administered. As a result, Island Health and the BC Cancer Agency are exploring how they can improve patient care and ensure that their approach reflects current treatment. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and leaders from the BC Cancer Agency and Island Health will come together for two days in September to document and improve the care journey of patients who receive in-patient chemotherapy on 8 South at Royal Jubilee Hospital. While health care providers and administrators have expertise in the services they provide, only the patient and family members experience the entire journey and can therefore offer a unique perspective on the experience of care. Before changes are made, the current process will be documented or ‘mapped’ to ensure that positive elements are carried forward and changes are targeted at areas in need of improvement (such as a streamlined processes for admissions and improved communication). During the first day, a facilitator will ask all participants to describe each step of the current process. The second day will focus on identifying actions required to reach the desired future state. At the end of the 2 days, interested patient partners are welcome to remain involved with the project until the improvements have been implemented. Island Health and BC Cancer Agency will use the results of the session to develop an implementation plan.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Leah Smith
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Southern Vancouver Island
778.678.3977
lsmith@bcpsqc.ca

From Our Community

Nancy J. Wood

Patient Partner, Sidney

Nancy J. Wood

I was thrilled to discover the Patient Voices Network, where the array of places to be the voice of a patient is vast and incredibly interesting. Besides my ongoing “gig” with the BC Emergency Medicine Network, I have enjoyed being involved in several one-off initiatives. I love working with professionals who genuinely value the perspectives of their patient partners.