The common denominator is that they all engaged with patients and clients and invited them to share input and ideas to improve services.

Suggestions for more peer outreach and mobile service, more opportunities to grow the community and “a map of care” are a few of the themes that were identified. Find out more by reading the overviews of each engagement project below.

Review of Harm Reduction/Needle Exchange Program

What input did you ask for?

It was important to us to engage with the clients we serve in our community to hear their voices and ensure that we were providing client-centred services, as well as with our community partners in order to determine how we can work together for the best experiences and outcomes possible for all of our clients.

What were the top three things you heard?

1. Clients felt that overall the current fixed site was working well for some people, however it might be too far away for others to access supplies.
2. Exploring peer outreach and mobile service was a theme.
3. Clients overall are very pleased with the NEX Health Care Workers, however believe that more work needs to be done to educate others in the community as well as other health care providers about respectful attitudes and care.

How did you/will you use the input to inform a decision or improvement?

We are moving forward with engaging with the client population to put into place two Peer Support Workers who will be trained to reach out to peers in providing harm reduction supplies, train peers in using Take Home Naloxone Kits and provide linkages and referrals to services.

Update of pre and post Cath Lab procedure booking documents/patient communication materials and educational materials

What input did you ask for?  

We asked patients to consider how well prepared they were, mentally and physically, for their Cardiac Cath Lab procedure and their discharge, based on the various communications and educational materials provided.

What were the top three things you heard?

1.  Once a procedure is done, patients want to know how long it is until next step in their care and/or are interested to see what a “map of their care” looks like.
2. While there was lots of positive feedback, there were comments that pointed to opportunities for improved consistency.
3. Some patients would benefit from a direct follow-up in the 24 hours post procedure.

How did you  use the input to inform a decision or improvement?  

The input from patients allowed us integrate their suggestions and feel confident that the document and educational material update project had successfully met patient needs. The only thing we could have done to improve our project would have been to seek Community Engagement sooner in the process.

Feedback on the Trans Supper Club

What input did you ask for?

We were transitioning to a new service provider, PACE, and wanted feedback from members on what they would like to have continue and ideas/input on the new service with the new provider.

What were the top three things you heard?

1. Opening the membership more to include individuals who identify along the LGBTQ continuum.
2. Having a community kitchen for the members.
3. Having more social opportunities at the new service.

How did you  use the input to inform a decision or improvement?

Feedback was shared with the new service provider and they incorporated it in their programming and service delivery. Bottom line: the new service provider has been a huge success: there has been regular attendance and new members have joined.

Lunch and Learn session this Wednesday

Are you interested in learning more about how community engagement can help you and your teams implement successful projects to better meet patient’s needs? Attend the 1-hour Lunch & Learn “Ready, Set, Engage! on Wednesday, June 28th from noon to 1 pm at our boardroom at 520 West 6th.

To sign up for this free event, simply RSVP to feedback@vch.ca with subject line “Lunch & Learn RSVP June 28, 2017”. Then bring your lunch and an interest in the topic. We’ll provide cookies and coffee.