Patient, Family/Caregiver Advisory Council (PFAC)
Co-Designing Health and Social Service Care in South Georgian Bay
Our SGB OHT has collaborated and co-designed our work with patients, family members, caregivers, and members of our community since we first began our work as the SGB OHT in 2019. Since that time, we have formally engaged and established the SGB OHT patient, family, and caregiver advisory council to co-design our work and strategic direction. This group has met monthly since March 2021 and continues to be engaged and informed members of the SGB OHT.
To continue to co-design our work as an OHT with our PFAC members, we are using a distributed leadership structure. The Chair of our PFAC is a member of the SGB OHT Collaboration Council, and other members of our PFAC sit on various action teams to inform the work from the patient/family/caregiver perspective.
The PFAC is currently leading the development of the following initiatives:
- local patient reported experience survey
- patient declaration of values
- patient, family and caregiver partnership and engagement strategy
Each of these initiatives has a measurement and evaluation structure associated with it to track their success and community engagement.
To date, members of the SGB OHT PFAC have expressed their gratitude for being a part of the OHT work, as illustrated in the quote below:
I feel that living in a community is more fulfilling if you are able to help other members of the community live healthy enriched lives.
Meet the Local Residents Informing Healthcare in South Georgian Bay
Anyone can join, and all are welcome.
Kathryn Bloomfield, PFAC Member
Kathryn Bloomfield has been with the SGB OHT PFAC since it began. She joined on behalf of Breaking Down Barriers where she was the Executive Director and then a Board Member. Mostly though she says she joined because she “has a real thing about health care not understanding people with disabilities and specifically people who use wheelchairs.” Kathryn wants to educate those working in healthcare and advocate for those with disabilities so that everyone in the community feels comfortable accessing care.
“I think it’s important on both sides. I think that the medical profession needs to understand the patient view and the patients need to understand the medical view. It’s a two-way street,” says Kathryn.
She encourages others to join the group as well so that there are different voices at the table.
“It’s important because we all have different experiences, like me growing up with my disability versus someone who has a spinal cord injury, we’re both in wheelchairs but the experience is different,” says Kathryn. “The PFAC group is very positive. Everyone is open to listening to everyone else. I really like that. I think it’s important that if you’re in that person’s shoes a little more it makes their point of view easier to understand.
Candy Milczynski, PFAC Member
Candy Milczynski has been involved with the SGB OHT PFAC since the group was formed. Since then, she says there has been a lot of learning about what the expectations and mandate for Ontario Health Team are and how we, in South Georgian Bay, can take that direction and make it relevant to healthcare in our area, while recognizing diverse populations and their specific needs.
Candy believes that working on current and future healthcare is critical as our population ages and the government tries to decide where to spend their healthcare resources.
“With the shortage of doctors and diagnostic and rehab facilities in our area, we need to maximize the potential of the resources that we have and identify where additional resource are required to meet the health needs of the people in South Georgian Bay,” says Candy. “I would encourage others to get involved in the PFAC because if we do not work together to build the new vision of healthcare, we have no right to complain.”
For Candy, it’s important to be informed because it helps you make better decisions related to healthcare for yourself, your family and your neighbours.
“We have to work our way from where we are now, to where we want to be in the future. And the more diversity of opinions that are considered, the better that future will be,” she adds.
She says her favourite part of being a member of the PFAC is working with people dedicated to making things better in the future.
Sheila Koss, PFAC Member
Sheila is a member of the PFAC. She joined the group because she feels that all citizens have a right to voice their opinion regarding health and wellness not only for themselves but for their community as a whole.
“Since the development of the Ontario Health Teams, I feel that we, as a group, have made valuable suggestions that have been well received,” says Sheila. “I look forward to participating in discussing future innovative possibilities that could further enhance the health and wellness of all residents of South Georgian Bay.”
Sheila and other members of the PFAC have been meeting via Zoom due to COVID restrictions and she looks forward to meeting again in person when possible.
Ontario Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Values and Our Commitment to Engagement
The South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team is committed to upholding the goals and principles of the Ontario Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Values. We work collaboratively to ensure that services are centred around patients, their families, and caregivers to improve their care.
Resources Developed by the SGB OHT Patient, Family/Caregiver Advisory Council
Resources to Bring to Medical Appointments
These resources were co-designed with our PFAC members. They are based on extensive research and consultation.
We hope they are useful to you as you navigate the healthcare system.
The South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team is committed to ensuring that everyone in our region has the best care possible. You can print off these questions to bring to your next healthcare appointment.
As a patient/client, friend, family member, or caregiver, you are an advocate for your health care or the health care of someone else. Advocating makes sure that the person you are advocating for gets the best care possible.
Join the PFAC
Your insights will help shape the future of health and social service care in South Georgian Bay.