Next Members’ Meeting At this meeting we’ll introduce co-consulting discussion groups...
Redesigning Services with Patients and Families We’re currently focused on helping hospital
triage nurses respond to patient anxiety in emergency rooms...
Enhancing the Patient Voice in Ontario’s Healthcare Boards Together board members and PAC
volunteers have begun an action plan for strengthening the patient perspective in board
deliberations...
Sarnia Patients Choice Awards On September 21st patients in Sarnia-Lambton celebrated the
two winners of Sarnia’s Patients’ Choice Awards initiative...
User Guide We have seen considerable progress with the Patient User Guide...
Web Updates We have designed a survey to evaluate your experience with PAC’s website...
Contribute to PAC The easiest way is to register as an e-member...
Next Members’ Meeting
Firstly, welcome new members! Each new e-member enhances the voice of patients and a large
number of e-members indicates that a growing number of patients are engaged in our
healthcare system. Please forward this e-newsletter to anyone interested in joining the
conversation.
If you're interested in more frequent updates visit our blog, follow us on Twitter, or 'like' us on
Facebook. Our downloadable brochure and orientation package clearly outlines PAC's goals and
mission, some of our activities, and it explains how to donate funds to help us continue to
grow.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, December 8th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the Ontario
Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in room #5280. Find details on the Events page. Please
email to confirm your attendance and invite anyone who might be interested.
We are trying something new! We’ll introduce co-consulting style discussion groups – it will be
an opportunity to share stories, obtain feedback, and brainstorm further action. We want to
cultivate meaningful conversations between members all while getting a sense for your
expectations, where you see PAC in the future, and which projects you want to pursue.
Redesigning Services with Patients and Families
Patient services in health care organizations are for the most part developed with patients in
mind, but with very little patient participation. In order to incorporate patient needs in service
design and delivery, we’re working with certain hospitals to develop patient-centred training
programs.
We’re currently focused on helping hospital triage nurses respond to patient anxiety in
emergency rooms. A patient-designed training program has been eagerly embraced by
healthcare institutions which recognize a desired outcome of improving everyone’s experience
with healthcare. PAC will also redesign Baycrest Hospital’s ‘Move in Day’ process in similar ways
and we expect to begin the project in the new year.
In addition, we recently submitted a letter of intent to the Change Foundation in partnership
with five Peterborough agencies including primary and secondary care and community services
to lead the process of redesigning service for older people. We are awaiting a response.
Enhancing the Patient Voice in Ontario’s Health Care Boards
Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Patients’ Association of Canada is moving
forward with our biggest project to date: Enhancing the Patient Voice in Ontario’s Health Care
Boards, a collaboration of board members and PAC volunteers.
We are seeking both current board members from healthcare institutions and volunteers with
particular knowledge of healthcare/governance to develop the collaborative. Board members
and PAC volunteers will share experience and knowledge via web-based and in-person
discussions. Together we will develop an action plan for strengthening the patient perspective
in board deliberations. PAC is also sharing resources on effective governance and the patient
perspective through a web-based resource library and an information line. Read more in this
downloadable pamphlet.
To contribute or obtain further information, contact Jennifer Carroll at
[email protected] or (416) 785-2500 ext. 3506.
Sarnia Patients’ Choice Awards
On September 21st patients in Sarnia-Lambton celebrated the two winners of Sarnia's Patients'
Choice Awards initiative, Dr. Cynthia Arnold and Dr. Glen Maddison. The patient who
nominated Dr. Arnold said,
“I can remember her being so concerned about me, she phoned me at home at night because
she couldn’t sleep. Because of that call, I went to the hospital and had emergency surgery.”
The Patients’ Choice Awards is the first initiative of its kind where patients can nominate
physicians who demonstrate a commitment to providing excellent patient-centred care. The
initiative was a complete success with an outstanding number of meaningful nominations.
We’re eager to introduce the project to other Canadian communities.
User Guide
We have seen considerable progress with the Patient User Guide. After a slight re-design, we’re
excited to introduce its three major components:



An editable section on policies and procedures for the treatment of specific ailments at
institutions across Canada. This section will initially be based on Navigating Canda's
Health Care (Michael Decter and Francesca Grosso, Pengin Canada)
A non-editable section of related patient narratives
Internal and external links to relevant information and resources
Please contact us if you’re interested in curating content, creating content or sharing your
patient narrative. This volunteer opportunity is suitable for those interested in contributing
from home
Web Updates
We have designed a survey to evaluate your experience with PAC’s website and your
participation would be greatly appreciated. Take the survey now!
Given that we have a range of users with different backgrounds we want to create a website
suitable for everyone. It’s important that PAC’s website remain patient-led and patientdesigned.
Contribute to PAC
There are many ways to contribute to the Patients' Association of Canada. The easiest way is to
register as an e-member, but if you want more involvement you can sign up to volunteer by
filling out the volunteer application form. If you're interested in contributing financially, we
accept online donations or donations by mail. We provide charitable receipts for gifts of $10.00
or more. For other fundraising inquiries, please contact Christina Spencer at (416) 785-2500 ext.
2472.
Patiently yours,
Sholom Glouberman