Patient Advisor, Underserved Workstream Steering Committee

Island Health is working to realize the 2020-2025 Strategic Framework through eight workstreams. Are you interested in the health care needs of underserved, marginally housed populations? Join this committee as a patient advisor!

Open to: Patient partners across the Island Health region

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health, Mental Health and Substance Use

Aim

The goals of the Underserved Workstream are to: • Ensure that the health care needs of the underserved, marginally housed individuals or those requiring housing are met • Address the unique challenges of the concurrent overdose crisis and COVID-19 emergencies The Steering Committee is at a strategic level providing oversight and accountability for workstream activities and includes members from multiple levels of the organization. The patient partner will be a collaborating member of the Steering Committee that reviews and oversees the Underserved Workstream activities.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of involve on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will involve patients in planning and design phases to ensure ideas or concerns are considered and reflected in alternatives and recommendations.

Eligibility

• Open to patient partners from the Vancouver Island region • Comfort working with senior executives/physician leadership at the table • Able to apply a broad systems lens • Reliable telephone or computer/internet for teleconference or video conference meetings • Please note:

• The placement process for this opportunity may include an informal interview between the volunteer and the health care partner.
• Applicants must have previously attended a PVN orientation session and completed the Volunteer Agreement. If you have not attended an orientation session but you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Ashley Clark directly to see if accommodations may be possible.

Logistics

• Number of vacancies: 1 • Date/Time: Every second Monday from 1-2pm • Location: Teleconference • Commitment: 1 year

Reimbursement

Pre-approved transportation and parking costs to attend meetings will be reimbursed by Island Health (if in-person meetings become an option).

Background

Underserved, marginally housed populations are facing severe challenges as a consequence of dual public health emergencies: the COVID-19 pandemic and the overdose crisis. Island Health is working to realize our 2020-2025 Strategic Framework through eight workstreams, each focused on delivering results through an annual workplan. The Steering Committee for the Underserved Workstream is recruiting a patient partner to reflect a patient perspective in the development and implementation of workstream initiatives. The underserved, marginally housed population is defined as:

• Those sheltering outdoors, residing in encampments, in emergency shelters, supportive recovery houses, congregate housing, or leaving correctional facilities with no return address who are moving amongst temporary situations, or do not have their own room
• LGBTQ individuals experiencing homelessness
• New immigrant and refugee communities who are unfamiliar with existing infrastructure, and may have language barriers
• Indigenous communities who – as a result of colonization – are overrepresented in homeless populations and face systemic and interpersonal barriers accessing supports
• Visible minorities/racialized communities who are overrepresented in homeless populations and face systemic and interpersonal barriers accessing supports

Patient partner responsibilities will be:

• Guided by the Underserved Workstream Steering Committee Terms of Reference
• To participate as a member in meetings with a focus on providing the patient/family perspective
• To maintain confidentiality of personal and business information as per the Island Health Privacy and Confidentiality Agreement

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Ashley Clark
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
250.812.8908
aclark@bcpsqc.ca