Residents interested in adding their voice to a discussion on health care are invited to participate in an upcoming orientation in Trail.
The Patient Voices Network, an initiative of ImpactBC in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s Patients as Partners, turns to patients for ideas on how to improve the health-care experience within the province.
“Patients and families are experts in their own lives, they need to be involved in system re-design and in their own care,” said Carol Stathers, the network’s interior liaison. “We know from research that when patients have a good experience with their health care and are engaged in the system, the results are very positive from better clinical outcomes, reduced costs, more satisfied patients and health professionals.”
The program, which started in the fall of 2009, has hosted three orientations in the Okanagan so far, but plans to make its Kootenay debut next month.
Patient Voices Network is a mechanism to invite, train and support patients and their families to participate in primary health care changes on a variety of different levels. The program offers opportunities for patients to get involved in health care changes, either in their own community or at a provincial level.
“(Greater Trail residents) will be provided with the opportunity to participate in health care system re-design through focus groups, patient advisory committees, take part in panel discussions, attend conferences and forums, contribute to the development of health policies, which may either occur locally or provincially,” explained Stathers.
Connected individuals can also choose to join the virtual network and sign up for monthly newsletters to keep learning about health care changes at www.patientvoices.ca
The tentative date for Trail is July 22nd but this depends on the number of people interested, with the location to still be determined.
The network will also be hosting other orientations in the region.
For more information, visit impactbc.ca or call 1-888-742-1772.