Reviewer, Metabolic Syndrome Monitoring Project

Are you interested in assisting Providence Health Care with creating a useful resource for the Metabolic Syndrome Monitoring project at St. Paul’s Hospital? Help us develop a handout that will best educate patients on making lifestyle changes to improve their health.

Open to: Patient partners in the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley

Lead Organization or Department

Providence Health Care - Clinical Nutrition Services

Aim

The aim of the Metabolic Syndrome Monitoring Project is to identify risk factors in high-risk populations and provide preventative strategies in hopes of reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. This program is currently in the final stages of development and will come into effect in fall 2018 at St. Paul's Hospital. We are looking for a patient partner who is interested in sharing their thoughts on an educational handout that has been created for this initiative.

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

• Experience receiving care within any program at St. Paul's Hospital
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

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 the engagement leader directly.

Logistics

• Number of Vacancies: 2
• Location: Acute Mental Health Program (2N) - Burrard Second Floor
• Date and time: July 17 9-10 am or anytime after 12 pm; or July 18th anytime between 10-1 pm for 1 hour
• Frequency: one-time consultation

Reimbursement

Travel expenses up to $18/day can be provided

Background

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) describes a cluster of conditions that can put people at a higher risk of developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and other heart-related issues. Risk factors include abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated lipid and fasting glucose levels. Individuals dealing with mental illness are more likely to have these risk factors. Some of the contributing factors include poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and side effects from psychotropic medications. The Metabolic Monitoring Project was created to identify risk factors among the Acute Inpatient Psychiatry units at St. Paul's Hospital. The program aims to also track metabolic disturbances and provide preventative strategies through education. An interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and educators are involved in the project.  Patient partners will be meeting with the developers of the handout, Anna McRae (registered dietitian working in Psychiatry) and Mandy Behnia (practicum student, Master of Public Health).

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Karen Estrin
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Lower Mainland & Sunshine Coast
604.668.8245
kestrin@bcpsqc.ca