Member, BC Emergency Medicine Network Clinical Resources Committee

Each year in BC, over 1,400 emergency practitioners respond to approximately 2.3 million patient visits in 108 emergency departments and diagnostic and treatment centres. We’re looking for patient partners who would like to use their experience to ensure patients have access to care that is built upon a foundation of person-centred care!

Open to: Patient partners across the province

Lead Organization or Department

BC Emergency Medicine Network

Aim

The BC Emergency Medicine Network is striving to strengthen the patient perspective in its Clinical Resources Program. Patient partner participation is sought for two activities: the Clinical Resources Committee and the Patient Information Sheet Review Project. Two patients are currently involved, and the BC Emergency Medicine Network is now looking for a third member to contribute their experience of emergency services to the program.

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

• Experience accessing emergency services and resources in BC, as a patient, family member or informal caregiver
• Experience as part of an advisory or steering committee, council or working group is not required but would be considered an asset
• Interest in reviewing information sheets given to patients when they leave the emergency room. There are currently 75 different topics ranging from Asthma to Wound Care.
• Consideration will be given to ensuring representation from both urban and rural areas of the province

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 Carol Stathers directly. Please note: An interview may be part of the selection process for this opportunity.

Logistics

Vacancies: One Date, time, location: It is expected that the next quarterly Committee meeting will be held in March. Meetings are expected to be held within regular business hours and will take place via teleconference or webinar. The Clinical Resources Committee meetings last approximately 90 minutes. Some email communication and document review may occur between meetings. The Patient Information Sheet Review Project requires a one-hour telephone meeting with the other patient partners every 2-3 months, with e-mail and document review between. Commitment: One year with the option of renewal. One full-day workshop will be planned but attendance is not mandatory if you are not able to travel (travel expenses to Vancouver will be reimbursed/pre-paid).

Reimbursement

Pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed; however, no expenses are expected at this time.

Background

The BC Emergency Medicine Network (EMN) launched September 2017 to improve emergency care in BC. The EMN exists to connect all emergency practitioners throughout the province so they can share the latest knowledge and support each other, so that no one practitioner is working in isolation. Over 1,400 emergency practitioners manage approximately 2.3 patient visits each year in 108 emergency departments and diagnostic & treatment centres. Almost half of these emergency practitioners are located in small communities where they lack opportunities to connect with or consult trusted colleagues. The ability to provide state-of-the-art care is also difficult, as there is constantly new information on how best to care for patients. All emergency departments are working independently to keep up to date. The EMN has four main programs:

1. Clinical Resources: sharing best practices and clinical resource tools
2. Innovation: creating innovative solutions through research
3. Continuing Professional Development: education courses for providers
4. Real time support: enabling text, phone or video support between physicians

Through the four programs, and by increasing communication among emergency practitioners in BC, the EMN will ensure consistent, best care for patients across the province. The Clinical Resources Committee oversees the Clinical Resources Program which focuses on sharing best practices and clinical resource tools with emergency practitioners across the province. The committee has quarterly meetings by video conference. The Patient Information Sheet Review Project was initiated by patient members on the Committee who are working to bring a person-centred focus to these resources. Patient partners are already providing leadership through participation in the Network’s Advisory Council and Clinical Resources Committee. The Clinical Resources Committee will consists of approximately ten members, including emergency practitioners and patients from all regions of the province.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Carol Stathers
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Okanagan, Interior Region
778.516.3308
cstathers@bcpsqc.ca