Patient Partner, Prince George Primary Care Network Community Advisory Group

The aim of the Primary Care Network (PCN) Community Advisory Group is to amplify the voices of patient and community partners in health care, provide input and feedback on PCN plans and activities ensure patient and community voices are incorporated into the design and operation of the PCN, inform discussions by sharing patient and community partner perspectives, and share opportunities and ideas on how the PCN can support the advancement of patient-centered care.

Logistics:
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Date and Time: TBD
• Location: In-person; Prince George Division of Family Practice 105- 1302 7th Ave.)
• Commitment: Quarterly for up to two years
• Frequency of meetings: The Community Advisory Group meets at a minimum four times per year. It is anticipated that the first meeting will be held in mid – late September 2024 and again in October as the group orientates itself.

Background: Primary Care Networks

In 2018/19, the Ministry of Health launched a transformational team-based primary care strategy envisioned to increase patient attachment and access to quality, comprehensive, culturally safe, and person-centered primary care services across the province. This strategy was initially developed in response to challenges including increasing numbers of British Columbians without a regular primary care provider, fragmented and varied care across multiple providers and increasing levels of clinician and provider burnout.
These clinical models and all primary care providers in a defined geography are aligned together in local Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to better coordinate and leverage existing and new providers and services to better meet the needs of local citizens. The models operate within a PCN, linked to other community and specialty services.

PCNs are locally planned and delivered through partnerships including Divisions of Family Practice, health authorities, First Nations and other local community representatives. As the foundation of an integrated system of primary and community care, PCNs maintain clear pathways and linkages with specialized community service programs as well as the broader health system.

Governance
PCN Steering Committees support a collaborative approach to patient care by building reciprocal accountability, with representatives from across the community geography, including: longitudinal and episodic clinics, regional health authority, local Indigenous partners, and a community advisory group. PCN Steering Committees are convened by a local family physician, who is nominated and supported by the local Division of Family Practice.

The local Division of Family Practice provides backbone support to the PCN by employing PCN management and administrative staff and taking on the secretariat role for the PCN Steering Committee. The regional health authority will support PCNs by being the primary conduit for financial, human resource, and other administrative reporting to the Ministry for PCNs.

The PCN Steering Committee identifies the primary care service needs of the population within a PCN geography in alignment with the PCN core attributes, develops a plan to meet those primary care service needs, and seeks approval and funding from the Ministry to implement. The PCN Steering Committee provides oversight to operationalize the PCN’s clinical services, as defined in its PCN service plan and as part of the local network of primary care services.

To balance the need for representation with the need to remain nimble in decision-making, the PCN Steering Committee will form at least one Community Advisory Group (CAG) that meets four times each year (minimum) to ensure community perspectives, such as local leaders, patients and caregivers, and local non-profits contributing to the health of the community, are integrated within decision-making.

 

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of Involve on the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation.

Eligibility

• Willing & comfortable to share health care experiences in a group setting
• Comfort with public speaking
• Previous committee/working group experience
• Have access to technology and the internet to participate in the engagement opportunity
• Comfortable using technology to attend online/virtual meetings
• An interest in improving health care services
• The time to participate in the engagement opportunity
• The ability to understand the confidential nature of information shared.

Patient Partners ARE NOT required to be PVN members to participate in this engagement opportunity.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Kelsey Ronan Primary Care Network Coordinator, Primary Care Network | Prince George Division of Family Practice (250) 561-0125 kronan@pgdivision.ca