By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
If you or a loved one has received care from Northumberland Hills Hospital in the past three years, if you have an interest in being part of hospital decision making that reflects its core values of integrity, quality, respect, compassion and teamwork, you may want to consider a volunteer opportunity with its Patient and Family Advisory Council.
Established at NHH in December 2016, this council’s patient and caregiver partners are active in all core patient-care areas of the hospital, working as partners with NHH staff, manager, physicians and board of directors on a wide variety of hospital activities, special projects, and program-focused quality and practice committees.
“The PFAC is one of many ways NHH works together with patients and caregivers to continuously enhance the quality of care from the perspective of those who receive care,” said Jennifer Gillard, Senior Director, Patient Experience, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships.
“NHH has benefited from many generous PFAC volunteers over the years, who have shared their lived experience, input and time. These individuals have played a key role enhancing the care experience at NHH in many ways, large and small, and we are committed to continually recruiting new advisors to sustain and expand this important work.”
The PFAC currently has three opportunities that require dedicated support.
Maternal/Child Care – Buddied with the unit manager, the successful candidate will bring his or her lived experience to NHH’s Maternal/Child Quality and Practice Committee. Acting in an advisory capacity to the program director and medical director, this committee actively oversees and provides advice and guidance regarding the planning, organization, care delivery and evaluation of NHH’s busy Maternal/Child program.
Community Mental Health and Addictions – Buddied with the Integrated Director, Mental Health, Community Program and Services, the successful candidate will bring his or her lived experience to the Quality and Practice Committee of NHH’s Community Mental Health and Addiction Program and other ad hoc projects. Equally well suited to a client of NHH’s community mental health program or to the loved one of a client, the opportunity offers a chance to work alongside practitioners to improve quality continuously and enhance local programming.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – As a member of this interdisciplinary advisory committee, and buddied with NHH’s VP, People, Culture and Organizational Effectiveness, the successful candidate will bring his or her passion for matters of diversity, general awareness, formal learnings or lived experience to the hospital with the aim of contributing to its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion agenda. He or she will also support strategies and initiatives designed to improve awareness of equity and diversity, and promote inclusion for staff, physicians, midwives and volunteers.
As well, the successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of patient-centred care in a manner targeted to remove barriers and create better opportunities for all patients (particularly those form equity-seeking or equity-deserving groups).
West Northumberland residents interested in these volunteer opportunities are invited to review the Terms of Reference and Rose Description and complete the Expression of Interest Form to be found at nhh.ca under the Patients tab on the Patient and Family Advisory Council page.
The full council meets quarterly as as group – two hours each, four times a year. In addition, PFAC advisors also participate (as their experience and interest directs) on the specific committees and projects to which they are assigned, requiring background reading and additional meetings six to nine times a year. Meeting times vary, according to area of service. Most are held in the daytime or early evening, and are currently happening in a mix of in-person and virtual settings. It is expected that in-person meetings will resume more regularly in the near future.
Completed Expression of Interest forms are required for consideration in the specific opportunities announced. Interest is invited at any time for any program area, though the PFAC aims to fill these specific priority opportunities by late June.
