New tools to help staff work with patient advisors

This past summer, the VCH Community Engagement Team welcomed the support of a practicum student to conduct an evaluation of our Patient Advisor Program.

VCH Currently has 40 members of its Community Engagement Advisory Network (CEAN) sitting on 24 committees as patient/public advisors. The evaluation of our advisor program was enlightening and provided important feedback on what we need to improve and change. It has also led to the revision of relevant tools and resources we currently provide for staff that are working with CEAN advisors on their committees and working groups. In particular, we have created a new tool; How to Engage Patient and Public Advisors: A Guide for Staff which includes an 8 step process for engaging pubic advisors, as well as many other practical tools to help guide staff. We have also revised our one pager on how to work with CEAN advisors called Patient and Public Advisors 101.

Visit Community Engagement’s intranet page to find these tools as well as a report on the Patient and Public Advisor evaluation.