Nova Scotia Health looking for volunteer advisors
GUYSBOROUGH — Hoping to keep its services locally relevant and useful, Nova Scotia Health (NSH) is asking Guysborough County residents to join its teams of volunteers contributing to everything from quality improvement to patient safety.
“Receiving feedback is key to improving every patient’s experience,” said Debbie LeLievre, NSH lead for patient experience and engagement, and director of quality improvement and safety for the Eastern Zone. “We want to make sure this gets a broad lens.”
The call-out is an annual initiative for the Eastern Health Zone – which encompasses Antigonish County, Guysborough County and all of Cape Breton – designed to deepen public engagement in its Quality Improvement and Safety Council. NSH is also seeking local recruits for its provincial Patient Family and Public Advisory Council, and for its ambulatory care and pathology/lab quality teams.
“We try to reach out to all communities for patient family advisors who’ve had experience in the healthcare system as a patient or as a loved one and family member of one who has received services,” LeLievre said. “It doesn’t matter what your educational background is or if you are currently working or retired; we’re trying to be as inclusive as possible.”
At the same time, according to a public service announcement, candidates must 18 years or older and “able to look at issues from more than one point of view; able to share their viewpoint in an honest, respectful way; reflective of diverse populations and perspectives in the community; and interested in making a positive contribution to healthcare services.”
They must also be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement, undergo a criminal background check, declare any potential conflicts of interest, and be available for daytime and/or evening meetings.
Lelievre said, “There are no surprises. When we have that first telephone conversation, or even email, with them, [we] clearly define ... the role. We also pull together some leaders within the teams who can have a conversation with them; kind of like an interview. We go through specific questions to make sure it’s the right fit for them. Prior to anything being finalized, or [obtaining] a commitment from them, we have at least two, if not three, conversations.”
For more information or to join, members of the public are invited to call 1-833-732-5646.
Alec Bruce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Guysborough Journal
