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Member, Coordinating Dementia Care Working Group

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Open to Fraser – Vancouver Coastal, Patient partners in the Lower Mainland

Last updated

Would you like to work on a project to improve care coordination for dementia patients who have at least one other chronic condition? If yes, the Shared Care Team at Providence Health Care is looking for patients or family members to bring their experiences and perspectives to this working group. Patient partners will be working as part of the team to develop a patient jouney map and concrete solutions to address gaps in care along the dementia journey.

Open to: Patient partners in the Lower Mainland

Lead Organization or Department

Providence Health Care, Shared Care and Virtual Care

Aim

The aim of the project is to improve/create communication channels between family physicians, specialists, and patients to better enable the coordination of care for people affected by dementia. Patient partners provide valuable insight and lived-experience about the dementia journey and the potential difficulties when engaging with multiple specialists. The patient partner will be asked to contribute to the discussion by sharing their lived-experience with the working group members.

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

Open to patient partners in the Lower Mainland who: • Have been diagnosed with dementia and one other chronic condition e.g. heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or are a family member/care giver who is supporting/supported someone with dementia and one other chronic condition • Are comfortable sharing their lived experience • Are comfortable working with physicians & specialists in a large group 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

  • Vacancies: 2-3
  • Initial meeting June 18, from 5.30 – 7.30pm. Meeting frequency will then be determined by the working group
  • In person attendance required at St Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver
  • 12-18 month commitment

Reimbursement

Transit and parking will be reimbursed up to $18/day and mileage up to 60km each direction, as per Providence Health Care's reimbursement policy. Dinner will also be provided.

Background

Older adults with complex chronic conditions require the involvement of their primary care provider, specialist physicians, family caregivers and community health services. However, with multiple physicians and service providers, the challenge becomes the coordination and communication of care. In many cases, gaps in coordination lead to unmet goals of care, especially with dementia. The objective of this project is to develop and improve communication processes to enable coordinated care for people with dementia who also have other chronic diseases. The phases of the project include: Phase 1: Journey mapping & gap analysis Phase 2: Solution & prototype development Phase 3: Testing and evaluation Phase 4: Change management & sustainment The Shared Care Committee funds this project. Formed in 2006 as part of the Physician Master Agreement, the Shared Care Committee is one of four Joint Collaborative Committees (JCCs) representing a partnership of the BC government and Doctors of BC. The mandate of Shared Care Committee is “to support family and specialist physicians to improve the coordination of care from primary to specialist services”. Terms of Reference will be developed and confirmed at the first meeting. More information about the project.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

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

From Our Community

Laura Klein

Clinical Practice Consultant in Fraser Health

Laura Klein

Seeking the patient perspective doesn’t have to be complicated; it simply entails a commitment to ask and listen. Patient advisors not only bring a valuable perspective but also share original ideas and unique skills. Including the patient and family perspective changes the conversation and aligns the team’s focus towards common goals.