Patient Advisor, Family Medicine Discharge Clinic

In some communities, the hospital can act as a family doctor for those who do not have one. Chilliwack family doctors have recognized that this is not ideal and have developed a Family Medicine Discharge Clinic for immediate, short-term care and are seeking a patient advisor to provide feedback into this critical service in Chilliwack.

Open to: Patient partners from Chilliwack and surrounding communities

Lead Organization or Department

Chilliwack Division of Family Practice. Lead Physician: Dr. Ling Low

Aim

The clinic aims to provide good quality care to patients without family physicians, ensuring that patient needs are met with the hopes of avoiding re-admission for the same issue. A patient advisor would:

• provide feedback to understand the hurdles patients may face receiving outpatient care;
• advise how the clinic can anticipate these hurdles for a successful transition out of hospital to avoid re-admissions; and
• give ideas on how to educate patients so that they can become more activated in their care to ease patient expectations of care providers.

Level of Engagement

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

Eligibility

• Has experience with the health care system, as a patient or family member, particularly transitioning to a family doctor after receiving complex services in the hospital or with home health services
• Brings an enthusiastic patient voice to the team and can critically assess systems and process as they design a pathway for patients

Logistics

Vacancies: 1 Date, Time, Location: At Chilliwack General Hospital on Tuesdays at 700 or 730 or Wednesday at 730 or 800 for one hour, once per month. Commitment: six-month duration

Reimbursement

Pre-approved expenses related to travel to in-person meetings will be reimbursed according to the Fraser Health Travel policy (including mileage, parking, tolls and/or public transit).

Background

Patients without primary care givers are sometimes admitted to hospital and looked after by the on-call doctor. Upon discharge, there are sometimes issues that need immediate follow up in the first month. The Family Medicine Discharge clinic is designed to be a place where these patients can land for immediate care in the short-term.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Jami Brown
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Fraser Valley
604.510.0449
jbrown@bcpsqc.ca