Patient & Family Engagement Advisory Committee

Featured Work

Advancing meaningful patient and family engagement in BC Renal

In 2022, the BC Renal Patient & Family Engagement Advisory Committee focused on its ongoing operational activities of integrating more patient and family voices into the work of BC Renal and its provincial committees and working groups.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, patient and family member interest in getting involved with BC Renal grew by 56%. Although there is still a lot of room for improvement in diversity and inclusion, we heard from more diverse voices through our many patient and family engagement activities.

A two-page infographic, “Patient & Family Engagement: Highlights of the Year 20212022,” is available on the BC Renal website and provides more of an overview.

Many thanks to Randy Spensley (outgoing co-chair) and Laura Bennett (former co-chair, BC Renal Patient & Family Engagement Framework Working Group) for all of their contributions over the years, and a big welcome to Bill Dear, new cochair of the Patient & Family Engagement Advisory Committee.

114

Patients & family members in the network*

27

Active patient partners**

23

Engagement opportunities (ongoing and short-term)

Other Highlights

• Marked first anniversary of Advancing

Insights, a monthly newsletter with over 120 subscribers, which features patient engagement and educational opportunities within and beyond BC

Renal

• Shared information and connected with patients and their families through presentations to groups such as Kidney

Friends Circle

• Developed a dissemination plan and infographics for the 2022 Patient

Experience Survey

Web info & resources:

BCRenal.caAbout AccountabilityPatient and Family Engagement

Feedback from patient partners:

100% 96%

are confident BC Renal takes the feedback provided by patient partners into consideration

report being better informed about the kidney health and care system in BC as a result of their participation 100%

95%

are satisfied with the engagement opportunities consider the engagement opportunities a good use of their time

Improvement Opportunities

Acknowledging the specific influence of patient partners

More clarification about the roles of patient partners and all involved in supporting them Creating space on meeting agendas for discussion and connection In 2022, the committee was varied by their individual backgrounds, stories and geographical locations. Yet, all the members had the same goal which was to help and enrich other patients’ lives while dealing with kidney disease. The respect and openness we had for each other was very enlightening. The collective ideas and thoughts were extremely important in achieving what we did. They are dedicated and wonderful people.

I firmly believe that the groundwork that has been established will benefit many patients and caregivers in the many years to come. It has been an honour to be part of this committee and I hope it will continue to grow and build on the foundations which have already been established.

Randy Spensley out-going Co-Chair, Patient & Family Engagement Advisory Committee