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Residents living in long-term care and their family* deserve to have input into decision making which affects their daily lives. Residents, who are able, advocate for themselves via Resident Councils. Family Councils advocate on behalf of their loved ones, the resident community at large and family caregivers as part of…

The right information, at the right time and in the right place – all working to make engagement opportunities better for YOU. We are improving Patient Voices Network (PVN) processes to better meet the needs of today’s BC health care system. Health care organizations want to lead and shape their relationships with…

Key TakeawaysLong-term care homes become the personal space of residents, not just places for everyday care. It is important that people in care have input into decisions that affect their daily lives and have support from their families or a long-term care home’s family council to advocate on their behalf.

The BC Patient Safety & Quality Council is thrilled and excited to share the Patient Voices Network’s work through the 2021-2022 Annual Report! We’re proud to have supported 383 patient partners in 154 new engagement opportunities, and welcomed 172 new patient partners to the network.  The…

After two full years of co-existing with COVID-19, it may no longer seem like a ‘novel’ virus. With each new wave, new challenges wash ashore, and the societal and health system impacts of COVID-19 continue to evolve. Like health care staff, PVN patient partners rose to the challenge and contributed…

Falls are a leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and often the reason why older adults lose their independence. Without prevention efforts, it is estimated that one third of people over the age of 65 will fall once or more each year.1 Fortunately, falls are not inevitable. Coordinated prevention efforts and…

It is no secret that people with mental illness experience stigma in society. While not a secret, what is less broadly understood are the ways in which structural and interpersonal stigma around mental illness have contributed to a system of care that leaves much to be desired. Unfortunately, for many…

Psychological Safety. It’s a notion that most would agree is important, but a bit elusive. The formal definition is “the degree to which people view the environment as conducive to interpersonally risky behaviours like speaking up or asking for help.”1 In health care environments, when it is lacking, staff and…

The BC Health Quality Matrix is an excellent resource that presents a definition and common language for understanding quality through seven dimensions: respect, safety, accessibility, appropriateness, effectiveness, equity and efficiency. But what does quality care mean for a specific health condition or journey? Certainly “best practice recommendations” and “clinical guidelines” highlight…

I was going through the process of getting my third COVID-19 “jab” in January. The clinic was held in a hotel event room in Squamish. After the initial “meet and greet” screenings, we queued up along a prefab hallway leading into the main room. It must have been 12-15 foot…