Engagement
Patient engagement playing positive role in guiding health care
There was a time when physicians and health professionals gave their advice and their word was law for a patient. Following doctor’s orders is a common phrase.
But today at Capital Health, it's not so much just about listening to the health care professionals (although that’s still important). The organization has learned that one of the best ways to offer the best health care is for physicians, health care professionals and leadership to listen to what the public has to say.
“We want to involve as many people (as possible), to help us set priorities, make decisions and help to give us some direction,” says Geoff Wilson, director of patient and pubic engagement at Capital Health.
Capital Health’s commitment to patient and public engagement began in 2007 during Strategic Quest, a planning process aimed at shaping the organization’s future. Since then, Capital Health has adopted an engagement policy, developed a basic training program for staff and physicians, and built a team of four patient and public engagement advisors. This team supports all of Capital Health’s programs and services, helping them to plan and deliver on their commitment to involve people.
In 2013-14, the program provided support to more than a dozen engagement projects involving patients, families and staff. In addition, the patient and public engagement team collaborated with colleagues across the province and it began participating in a national research project on evaluating engagement in a health care context. A list of current projects can be found online.
Wilson stresses that patient and public engagement isn’t just a nice-to-do item at Capital Health. It is integral to the organization’s philosophy and its way forward.
“We have a policy that governs engagement and people in the leadership roles in the organization have accountability under the policy. This isn’t optional for us.”
One of the major initiatives aimed at improving public and patient feedback is the quality and patient safety teams. These teams inform more than 60 service areas within Capital Health, with current and former patients providing valuable input.
The program is constantly recruiting for volunteer positions on the teams, sometimes taking three to four months to find a candidate. Those who have taken part say the process is enriching.
“We’ve learned from (Capital Health) and they’ve learned from us,” says Paula Churchill, orthopedic Quality and Patient Safety Team member. “They’ve been able to implement different things we’ve suggested.”
Through many of the program’s initiatives, patients and members of the public have the opportunity to take part in meaningful discussions about issues that affect their lives.
“As a citizen, to have the opportunity to learn more and give your opinion and advice on some things that perhaps could change or work better, for me personally was a great opportunity,” says Bob Book, who was a patient volunteer of Capital Health’s 2011 citizen reference panel on business planning.
Engaging patients and the public to take part in health care decisions requires a shift from the traditional, expert-driven model, to one that is broad based and grassroots. While medical experts and health care professionals continue to be important, patient and public perspectives are sought and used to provide the best care, said Wilson.
So far, much of the patient and public engagement work is project based, aimed at meeting needs identified by members of the public or patient populations. Wilson said bringing people with diverse backgrounds and opinions into the process is an important part of how Capital Health tackles issues.
“Every time we have brought people in with a lay perspective or a patient perspective, things have changed.”
Contact the patient and public engagement team at participate@cdha.nshealth.ca.
Capital Health has nearly 100 volunteer Community Health Board members on seven boards. These boards are the eyes, ears and voice of community within Capital Health.