Member, BC Emergency Medicine Network Patient Council

A great opportunity awaits you to contribute to emergency care in your province, and to ensure that patients have access to care that is built upon a foundation of person-and family-centredness! We’re excited to welcome up to eight individuals to become valuable members of the BC Emergency Medicine Network’s (BCEMN) inaugural Patient Council. If you enjoy thinking strategically and collaboratively, and can offer your enthusiasm, creativity, patience and time, please consider this engagement opportunity!

Open to: Patient partners across the province

Lead Organization or Department

BC Emergency Medicine Network

Aim

The aim of the Council is to bring together a diverse group of patient voices who are interested in working with the BCEMN to improve emergency patient care in BC. Having a Patient Council will help to ensure a patient lens is included in BC Emergency Medicine Network activities. The role of the Patient Council is to provide input on Network priorities/initiatives; act as a resource for Network Programs and Evaluation; identify resources that are missing/lacking for emergency patients in BC and play an advocacy role for emergency care in BC. This is the first Patient Council for the BC Emergency Medicine Network, so members will have the unique opportunity to define and shape the role of the Council.

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 across the province who have:

• Experience accessing emergency services and resources in BC, as a patient, family member or informal caregiver
• Experience as part of an advisory or steering committee, council or working group and/or comfort speaking in groups
• Experience working together with clinicians, Patient Partners and health care leaders is an asset
• Experience working at a strategic planning or systems level is an asset
• Comfort using technology to join online meetings
• We are seeking people who represent diverse perspectives, which may include but are not limited to geography/neighbourhood, culture, ethnic or national origin, marital status, age, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, income variety, education, work experience, genetic characteristics, family status, disability, and/or experiences with health challenges or health care. The composition of the Patient Council is guided by the desire to learn and to share perspectives and experiences from across a diverse population and broad demographic balance

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 Cassy Mitchell Please note that the placement process for this opportunity will include an informal interview between the volunteer and the health care partner.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 6-8
• Date and time: Council meetings will be held on a quarterly basis. Timing will be determined based on the Council members’ availability. Three of the four annual meetings will be held virtually by videoconference/teleconference (duration: 90 minutes). One meeting per year will be arranged for in-person (duration: 3 hours). The first meeting will be held in Vancouver, BC.
• Location: Videoconference/teleconference and in person
• Commitment: 12 months

Reimbursement

Pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. mileage, parking, printing) and travel costs related to in person meetings will be reimbursed as per BCEMN reimbursement policy.

Background

The BCEMN launched September 2017 to improve emergency care in BC and exists to connect all emergency practitioners throughout the province so they can share the latest knowledge and support each other, so that no one practitioner is working in isolation. Over 1,400 emergency practitioners manage approximately 2.3 million patient visits each year in 108 Emergency Departments and Diagnostic & Treatment centres. Almost half of these emergency practitioners are located in small communities where they lack opportunities to connect with or consult trusted colleagues. The ability to provide state-of-the-art care is also difficult, as there is constantly new information on how best to care for patients. All emergency departments are working independently to keep up to date. The BCEMN has four main programs: 1) Clinical Resources: sharing best practices and clinical resource tools 2) Innovation: creating innovative solutions through research 3) Continuing Professional Development: education courses for providers 4) Real time support: enabling text, phone or video support between physicians Through the four programs, and by increasing communication amongst emergency practitioners in BC, the BCEMN will ensure consistent, best care for patients across the province. The Vision of the BCEMN is Exceptional Emergency Care. Everywhere. Patient Partners are already providing leadership through participation in the Network’s Advisory Council, Management Committee and Clinical Resources Committee and BCEMN is wishing to increase patient engagement by bringing together additional Patient Partners to form a Patient Council. This will be the first Patient Council for the BC Emergency Medicine Network, so members will have the unique opportunity to define, and develop the Council’s role. You can learn more about the BC Emergency Medicine Network on its website: https://www.bcemergencynetwork.ca

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Cassy Mitchell
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Northern Interior
250.279.0717
cmitchell@bcpsqc.ca