News
3 members contribute to provincial workshop
Three Patient Voices Members participated in the Patients as Partners Provincial Workshop on June 14, 2010 whose workshop report prepared by Impact BC was released on August 20. Patients and family representatives, health authorities, non-governmental organizations, and government met to build understanding, leadership and commitment to the Patients as Partners agenda in British Columbia. The discussion focused on integrating care across Primary Care, Mental Health and Substance Use Services, and Home and Community Care.
Patient Voices Network members participated in small group discussions and brainstorming sessions, shared their ideas from the patient perspective, and asked questions of the healthcare decision makers in the room.
Here’s what Patient Voices Network members said about participating:
“I learned so much at the workshop and have learned so much more since then. It has given me a new hope in our health care system. I retired from the health care industry and it is the first time that I witnessed such a positive atmosphere between all parties concerned.”
“I really appreciated being asked to be a part of this. I truly have not felt so welcomed anywhere as I did at this workshop. Very well done.”
“I came out of the workshop with a greater understanding the importance of our contribution. As I ease into this I will become able to ask more questions. The more I learn and understand the more I can contribute.”
Workshop organizers also appreciated hearing from patients:
“The presence of patients was crucial to our success. To have their voice working alongside the traditional players in primary and community care (primary care, home and community care, mental health and substance use services), greatly increased our chances of making significant progress.”
BC youth representative needed The Young Adult Leadership Team
The Young Adult Leadership Team, an additional component to the Youth Advisory Committee of Health Canada, is being managed by The Students Commission & Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement, and is looking for a representative from BC, between the ages of 19-24, at the time of engagement, who must be available for (on average) one hour per week to participate in YLT activities.
If you know of anyone interested in participating in the Young Adult Leadership Team of Health Canada, who is either a smoker or non-smoker, and would like to contribute by being part of a national team of youth and young adults involved in tobacco reduction activities and in an advisory capacity, please pass on their name and contact information to Shirley Thompson, Tobacco Program Officer, Health Canada at 604.666.5094.
Healthcare transformation in Canada Canadian Medical Association releases paper
Read moreMedicare needs to be transformed to meet the future needs of Canadians affordably, a physicians' group says in calling for new incentives and for feedback from Canadians.
The Canadian Medical Association released its report, Health Care Transformation in Canada: Change that Works, Care that Lasts, on Tuesday to spark discussion on funding, staffing and accountability among health care professionals, politicians, and the public. The association, known as the CMA, is seeking advice on how to achieve timely access to high-quality care for patients.
Queer women and experiences of health and care an LTGBTQ community research project
Did you know that health researchers have reported that LGBTQ women…
- Are less likely to get regular check-ups, pap tests,mammograms etc…?
- Are less satisfied with their health care?
- Have higher rates of breast, ovarian and other cancers?
If you are:
- An LGBTQ woman (trans inclusive)
- Who has accessed any health services in Vancouver (could be as simple as one visit to a walk-in clinic)
- And you are 18 years-of-age or more
Share your story of health and care.
It matters that this project interviews a diverse and trans inclusive group of LGBTQ women. Your story matters, here.
Participate in a confidential interview and share your experiences of health and care.
For more information, contact Dr. Mary Bryson, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia mary [dot] bryson
ubc [dot] ca
Access to specialist care survey New opportunity to share your voice!
This online survey is being conducted by Patient Voices Network in collaboration with the Shared Care Committee (SCC). The purpose is to inform family doctors and medical specialists about patients' experiences in accessing specialist care, and to find ways to improve the delivery of primary health services.
The Shared Care Committee is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health Services and BC Medical Association, bringing family physicians and medical specialists together to improve health outcomes and the patient journey through the health care system. Currently this committee is working on a one year pilot project to develop new ways of providing effective, streamlined care for patients with chronic conditions.
To participate in this survey:
- you MUST have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition by a healthcare professional, and
- you MUST have accessed specialist care within the last 5 years.
You may also be a caregiver of someone who meets the above requirements.
This survey will take 10-20 minutes to complete.
Take the survey and have your voice heard.
The deadline is July 26th, 2010.
CPR Education Material Available
As part of the 2010 Olympic legacy, VANOC has donated a large number of Laerdel CPR Anytime Family and Friends education kits to Vancouver Coastal Health. Learning and Development would like to make these kits available to community organizations to help train community members in CPR. The kit provides training in basic adult and child CPR in a “practice-while-watching” format and includes a DVD and Mini Anne manikin. If you are a member of a community organization that would be interested in receiving some of the CPR kits please fill out the form provided and email to Elizabeth [dot] Masonvch [dot] ca (Elizabeth Mason).
Selling Sickness conference in Amsterdam Patient Voices Network member, Johanna Trimble to present
Johanna Trimble will be presenting at the Selling Sickness conference in Amsterdam in October 2010. Her presentation is titled, Is Your Mom on Drugs? — Reducing Medication in the Elderly. The conference is hosted by Healthy Skepticism (Netherlands) assisted by the Dutch Institute for Rational Use of Medicine and Healthy Skepticism (International). The sponsors are the Dutch Ministry of Health and the Dutch Health Care Inspectorate.
Read Johanna's patient profile, and find out why she joined the Patient Voices Network.
The promise of an integrated approach Everyone in BC will have a family doctor by 2015
Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon announced that the province is investing $137-million for a new primary healthcare model that will take an integrated approach to healthcare service delivery and provide every family in BC with a family doctor by 2015.
Uncovering the myth of the nurse practitioner & more
The June 9th issue of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation’s (CHSRF) monthly e-bulletin features some interesting articles related to the patient perspective and involving patients as part of the healthcare team:
- Find out if the myth is true that seeing a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor is second-class care in this Mythbusters article.
- Read the stories about four organizations that are successfully including patients and their families in the provision of healthcare.
- Does introducing the patient perspective improve clinical decision-making quality for "grey zone" decision? Read the article to find out what the latest research indicates.
For more articles and reports, subscribe to the CHSRF monthly e-bulletin to stay up-to-date on the latest news in Canadian healthcare.
Social networking: good for your health?
Is social media creating a new approach to health consciousness? A CBC news article reports that a new Facebook game has been designed to improve the lives of people with Type 2 diabetes by motivating them to be healthier. The HealthSeeker game has already attracted 2,000 users by combining new technology, social media and psychology to reward players for healthy behaviours, such as eating brown rice or going for a walk. Learn more…
