Engaging Albertans is essential to embed the core principles of Patient & Family Centred Care into the work of the Primary Health Care Integration Network. This will ensure everything we do is shaped by the needs and what matters most to, ‘real people’ - Alberta patients, clients, residents, families and caregivers.

Patient / Citizen Engagement Approach

The Primary Health Care Integration Network has representation from Albertans within each of the five zones in Alberta: North, Edmonton, Central, Calgary and South. Patients and families are engaged as partners to inform the priorities and to co-develop integration solutions. Engaging directly with patients, families and caregivers in the Primary Health Care Integration Network will see integration priorities and solutions developed and implemented by the zones, community health providers and Primary Care Networks that are patient and family-centred.

Primary Health Care Virtual Patient Engagement Network

The Primary Health Care Virtual Patient Engagement Network (VPEN) is a platform that connects patients, families and caregivers with people and teams working in primary healthcare. These engagement partnerships will help develop a more integrated healthcare system. Patient and family advisors are matched to primary healthcare projects and initiatives that best fit with their experiences, interests and availability. These partnerships model a different way of working where front line staff, clinicians, leaders, patients and families work alongside one another to co-design healthcare integration solutions.

Benefits of Joining

As a volunteer patient and family advisor, your voice and expertise will focus our work on what is most important to you:

• Share your story and what matters most to you;
• Bring your voice and experience to Primary Health Care initiatives;
• Connect with other advisors partnering with Primary Health Care;
• Transform initiatives to be truly person-centred;
• Help create a more integrated healthcare experience for Albertans; and
• Co-design integration solutions WITH Primary Health Care as partners.

How have patients been involved?

Patient and family advisors have been partnering in a diverse range of Primary Health Care Integration Network initiatives to ensure the work of Network is patient and family centred. Read examples of how patients and families have been involved:

• Virtual Patient Engagement Network (VPEN) 2020/21 Annual Summary Report.
• Transitions Through Patients’ Eyes: Recommendations to Support Patients and Families;
• Home to Hospital to Home Patient Discovery Day;
• Putting the Heart in Home to Hospital to Home Transitions;
• My Family Doc is the #SpecialistOfMe;
• Primary Healthcare Patient Videos to Inspire Change; and
• Patient’s Story: D’Arcy & Vicki

Join us now!

There are so many ways to get involved! Join a primary care advisory committee, participate in a virtual consultation, assist with the review and development of patient resources, partner on a research grant and more!

• If you are a patient, family member or caregiver, learn more or become involved, view the  Primary Health Care VPEN Volunteer Information Sheet.
• If you are a primary healthcare leader, provider, researcher or community partner, learn more, view the Primary Health Care VPEN Healthcare Provider Information Sheet.

For more information, contact: phc.integrationnetwork@ahs.ca or submit an online volunteer application through AHS Volunteer Resources-Primary Health Care VPEN.

Patient Engagement in Support of SCNs

Engaging with patients and families helps build understanding and empathy for the people who are using our healthcare system and whose lives are impacted by the decisions we make.

Through the work of the Strategic Clinical Networks^TM (SCNs), the voice of patients is being included in important healthcare decisions. This input will improve the safety and quality of healthcare for all Albertans.

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