Patient Advisor, Technology to Reduce Social Isolation for Marginalized Populations Project, Surrey Memorial Hospital

Studies show that marginalized patients that access health care are at risk for increased anxiety and reduced effectiveness of their care plans due to social isolation.  A Surrey General Practitioner team is exploring how a remote text-communication tool could be used to reduce social isolation and support engaged care teams.

Open to: Volunteers in the Fraser Health region

Lead Organization or Department

Gateway Medical Clinic, Family Physician Team

Aim

• To integrate patient input into the design and development of this quality improvement project
• To increase communication with patients in order to reduce social isolation and anxiety, while also improving the effectiveness of the patient’s care plan
• Patient advisors would be part of a team trying a novel approach to reducing social isolation for vulnerable populations

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of involve on the spectrum of engagement (www.iap2.org). The promise to you is that the health care partner will work with you to ensure that your ideas and concerns are reflected in recommendations and provide feedback on how your input affected the decision.

Eligibility

• Communities in Fraser Health
• Special consideration would be paid to those with lived experience with or as a member of a vulnerable population. For the purposes of this invitation, vulnerable populations are those patients who face challenges with health care services such as people with lived experience of mental health & addictions and the frail elderly.
• Patients should have previously attended a PVN orientation session.  If you have not attended an orientation but are interested please contact Jami directly to see if accommodations may be possible.

Logistics

• Number of vacancies:  2
• Date and Time:  TBD based on patient volunteer availability
• Location:  Via telephone, computer and possible in person meeting in Surrey
• Commitment:  negotiable

Reimbursement

Preapproved expenses related to travel to in person meetings will be reimbursed according to the Fraser Health Travel policy (including mileage each way, tolls, parking and public transit).

Background

This project aims to reduce the burden on nursing teams and anxiety burden on patients by utilizing professional crisis line type remote volunteer counselors and medical translators trained by a General Practitioner. The project seeks to:

• Reduce patient anxiety and sense of isolation in the hope of increasing effectiveness of medical care
• Improve staff experience
• Reduce usage of chemical or physical restraints and security calls

Health Care Partner Contact Information

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