Interviewee, Breathlessness Workshop in Palliative Care Medical Intensive Course

Victoria Hospice is hosting a five-day continuing education program for health care workers in November.  A patient partner who currently experiences breathlessness, also known as dyspnea, is invited to come on stage for an interview and discussion about their condition and quality of life.  If you live with this condition and would like to share your story, please read on!

Open to: Patient partners from Greater Victoria area

Lead Organization or Department

Victoria Hospice, Education Department

Aim

On November 21, Dr. Christine Jones will be leading a session about breathlessness (dyspnea) at the Victoria Hospice Palliative Care Medical Intensive event in Victoria.  The session will be attended by health care workers, and the goal is to provide them with education and understanding around the life of someone who lives with breathlessness. By interviewing a patient partner during this session, the team hopes to deepen the overall learning experience of the attendees. The interview will last approximately 15 minutes in front of 125 attendees. The interview questions and presentation can be provided in advance, and a meeting with Dr. Jones can be arranged ahead of time. The patient speaker is welcome to attend the entire day’s events.

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 the Greater Victoria area
• Experience (personal or family) living with breathlessness due to asthma, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, etc.
• Comfortable sharing their experience through answering questions and discussing their condition with a physician in front of about 125 people. Experience as a public speaker would be an asset.
• Comfortable wearing a microphone

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 Kira Tozer directly to see if accommodations may be possible.

Logistics

Number of vacancies: 1 Date/Time: Wednesday November 21, 2018 (1030 - 1200, interview scheduled for 1050 - 1110) Location: Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria Commitment: one-time event with a pre-meeting phone call to prepare

Reimbursement

Pre-approved transportation & parking costs to attend the event will be reimbursed by Victoria Hospice.

Background

Victoria Hospice's five-day Palliative Care: Medical Intensive course covers intermediate and some advanced aspects of palliative care. It provides a continued learning opportunity for:

• Family physicians or new palliative care physicians
• Nurses from palliative care settings, home care, or long-term care facilities
• Family practice residents
• Pharmacists
• Medical students with an interest in palliative care
• And others with a professional interest in palliative care

Course Goals/ Objectives

• Recognize the diversity of people’s experiences at the end of life and apply a variety of approaches to end of life care.
• Summarize the psychosocial approach in End of Life Care and identify interventions across transitions and diseases.
• Integrate personal and professional experiences and apply knowledge and skills.
• Recognize the complexity of psychosocial care including spiritual, cultural and family considerations and impacts on team and self.
• Articulate the role of self in providing psychosocial care including boundaries, intention and impact on self.
• Participate in a learning opportunity that brings professionals with similar interests and unique perspectives together for shared learning.

For more information visit: https://www.victoriahospice.org/courses/palliative-care-medical-intensive

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Kira Tozer
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
250.888.4525
ktozer@bcpsqc.ca