Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) is currently working to recruit Patient & Family Advisors to bring the patient and family perspective into everything we do. We are seeking individuals that are willing to partner with us to improve the experience of care at BOPDHB by sharing their ideas, feedback and participation.

Volunteer Patient Advisors will serve as a "voice" for patients and families of patients who receive care at BOPDHB. Advisors will work side-by-side with clinicians and administrators to:

• Share insights and information about experiences in ways that others can learn from
• See beyond personal experiences
• Show concern for more than one issue
• Listen well
• Respect diversity
• Speak comfortably in a group
• Work in partnership with others
• Show a positive outlook on life
• Show compassion while maintaining boundaries
• Demonstrate commitment to customer satisfaction
• Comply with hospital confidentiality policy and requirements of the Privacy Act
• Maintain open communication

As a patient or family advisor, you would be partnering with other patients and family members, health care providers and staff to raise issues, communicate patient and family concerns and help with problem solving, with the goal of improving the patient experience. When patient and family volunteers work together with BOPDHB staff, the health care experience can be improved for everyone. If you are looking for ways to draw on your personal experiences at BOPDHB and contribute to the greater good by helping to improve the quality of care, this programme will provide an excellent opportunity for you.

Within the Patient and Family-Centred Care programme at BOPDHB, Volunteer Patient Advisors will be presented with many different opportunities to become involved. Each of these roles provides invaluable information to the care team and will be a rewarding experience to you. Some of the identified opportunities are as follows:

Volunteer Patient Advisory Group

The Volunteer Patient Advisory Group will be the core of the Patient and Family Centred Care Initiative at BOPDHB. The Volunteer Patient Advisory Group will address patient and family experiences and concerns, and seek care improvement opportunities.

Suggested length of term for membership is 1 or 2 years to maintain some consistency in the group and also to allow members to rotate without the whole group finishing at once. This group will have regular scheduled meetings.

Smaller work groups (6-8 members) will focus on specific BOPDHB care improvement opportunities. These groups are often issue driven formed on an as-needed basis and may include volunteers, patients, families and staff.

Review Panels will be organised to evaluate designated materials, which may include patient educational materials, policies and or protocols etc. These projects can be done via email or by using the postal service. These are short-term projects and Advisors with appropriate service experience will be sought. Members of the Volunteer Patient Advisory Group may also participate or coordinate these opportunities.

Advisors with experience of specific Wards / Departments / Services may be asked to participate in panel discussions and / or educational classes to express their personal experiences and stories. Consent may be sought for these events to be recorded or videotaped for use in specific improvement opportunities.

Advisors are responsible for providing feedback on surveys relating to specific services. Work may be completed via email, post or telephone.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved, please read the job description and fill out the application form.

 

• To promote improved relationships between patients, families, and staff and improve the patient experience.
• To open lines of communication between patients, families, and staff.
• To offer an opportunity for patients and families to provide input into policy and program development and actively participate in care improvement opportunities and the development of services and programmes.

• Someone who volunteers their time to work with the organisation to share their insights, thoughts, and opinions about what works and doesn't work for people receiving services.
• Someone who can provide fresh insights on what it's like to receive services from the healthcare delivery system.
• Someone who can bring not only their own ideas, but the thoughts and ideas of others within their network.

• Bring diverse ideas and experiences to conversations about ways to improve healthcare, policies, services, communication and tools that might be used.
• Talk about and help others talk about ideas so that BOPDHB can make healthcare better for our community.
• Work together with care team in planning and decision making.
• Think beyond what happened to them and / or their family members to help others have an improved experience.

An advisor is someone who can:

• Share insights and experiences in ways that others can learn from them.
• See beyond their own personal experiences.
• Show concern for more than one issue or agenda.
• Respect diversity and differing opinions and perspectives.
• Speak comfortably in a group with candour.
• Listen well.
• Enjoy working together with others on solutions.

Further Patient and Family-Centred Care information is available at: http://www.ipfcc.org/faq.html