Person with Lived Experience, Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) Video Project

The effect of the opioid epidemic is far-reaching and felt in all parts of BC. Overdose reduction begins by building trust amongst family doctors. Connecting stable patients with opioid addictions with physicians who are qualified in prescribing opioid agonist therapy (OAT) increases opportunities for people to live healthier lives. This project is seeking two persons with lived experience to share their stories and provide input into the development of a video that encourages physicians to be a part of this therapy program.

Open to: Patient partners from the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.

Lead Organization or Department

BC Patient Safety & Quality Council, in partnership with Surrey/Delta Division of Family Practice

Aim

This project aims to encourage physicians in the Surrey-North Delta area to take on stable patients who need maintenance therapy using buprenorphine and naloxone. Persons with lived experience will share their story with the hopes of encouraging physicians to provide longitudinal care through the induction phase of OAT with the goal of freeing up space in complex care facilities, reducing waitlist times and providing better patient- and family-centred care.

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

This engagement is ideal for patient partners who:

• have used opiates/illicit drugs and are currently stable
• are comfortable sharing their story with an audience of 15-20 people
• have used addiction and/or emergency services

Logistics

Vacancies: 2 Date/Time: To be determined, based on availability Location: North Surrey area Commitment: One week to six months

• One meeting August for ~1-2 hours to film a short video (30 seconds — 1 minute in length)
• Educational session to make a short presentation (5 mins) for a group of physicians who are interested in prescribing OAT
• Another educational session in late August with the same criteria, date TBD

 

Reimbursement

Preapproved expenses related to local travel to in person meetings will be reimbursed (including mileage, parking, tolls and/or public transit).

Background

We will be involving members of the Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice, as well as nurse practitioners and an intern from the BCPSQC. This project came about from Dr. Lawrence Yang, who has been prescribing buprenorphine and naloxone and wished to see other doctors in his community do the same. This project is directly related to family physicians and their practices. Project Goal: Improve care of patients dealing with addictions and narcotic/opioids dependency by decreasing the stigma of substance use and increasing compassion among healthcare providers, other community service providers, and the public.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

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