The Value of Patient and Family Advisors in Cancer Care

Patient and Family Advisors in Cancer Care  

This week I explore the topic of Patient and Family Advisors (PFA’s) and their value in supporting patient care. Particularly their importance in shaping current and future cancer care. Having PFA’s at all levels of decision making from unit level organizational working groups, up to National advisory boards is key. These individuals allow for organizations to stay focused on the patient experience as a priority. 

At Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) there is a PFA volunteer for every unit. For Oncology, our PAF 

attends both the unit quality meeting and regional working group. Patient and family advisors are key in 

my practice in the outpatient oncology department. They bring a lens of lived experience to the decision making around care and the department. They provide feedback around unit work, patient education, survey development, policy development and unit enhancement projects. This feedback directly affects the care provided for our cancer patients. We hope that our PAF may soon attend our weekly unit huddle to ensure that the staff are consistently considering the patient in every opportunity presented. In our region the PFA for the JBH unit I manage also sits on the regional working group. They take part in regional goal development for Cancer Care Plan 6 and any other topics related to care. They have a clear line of site to the metrics and if we are meeting provincial targets. Their valuable feedback is encouraged and welcome. In the Province patient and family advisors for cancer care are shaping future care. By taking part in research, provincial, regional and community working groups. Advocating for resources to be used to support work meaningful to Cancer patients. Here are some resources to reflect how this great work is being supported in Ontario. 

References

Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. (n.d.) Public and patient engagement 

public-and-patient-engagement  

Cancer Care Ontario. (n.d.). Patient and family engagement and experience.  https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/cancer-care-ontario/programs/clinical-services/patient-family-engagement- experience  

 Canadian Cancer Society. (n.d.). Patient and community engagement resources.

https://cancer.ca/en/research/for-researchers/patient-and-community-engagement-for-researchers/resources-for- partnering-with-patients-and-community-members 

Etchegary, H., King, J., Savas, S. (2024). Who’s responsibility, is it? Implementing patient- prioritized         healthcare system change in oncology. Current Oncology. 31 (11), 7301- 7307.                                           https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31110538 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nursing in the 21st Century - Building your online media presence

Being a nurse in the 21st century Currently I belong to the College of Nurses of Ontario.  There is an entrance exam for your license and then you are held accountable to the standards of practice.  In the past I have belonged to the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) for networking and legal protection. I have also belonged to the Interventional Radiology Nurses Association, which is a professional group in the U.S.A, for education opportunities and networking. My profession integrates with many other professions.  We collaborate to develop and provide optimal patient care. This professions may be associated with healthcare, Informatics, business, communications, organizational development,  procurement, and education. These professions work together to develop action plans for the patient journey including direct patient care, financial reimbursement, community engagement, sustainability, future planning and the technology associated to the work. These...
Read more

Young Adults with Cancer - An Outpatient Clinics Role in Supporting Care Equity

Image
Vulnerable Cancer Populations: Who are they?       Close your eyes and consider an image of a cancer patient who experiences inequity in the Canadian health care system. Did you imagine a young adult a s vulnerable to health disparities ? Hovsepyan et a l (2023) s uggest “adolescents and young adults face poorer survival rates than children and adults” ( p. 2). Young adults with cancer face many challenges in their health journey including inability to work, attend school, build relationships, coping skills, understanding of health teaching, mental health challenges, and adopting healthy behaviour ( Berkman et al., 2024). They also have more side effects, financial challenges and a higher likelihood of not following through with care. Further, y oung adult cancer survivors face potential for recurrence, new cancer, physical impairment, psychological strain, and chronic condition (Cancer Care Ontario, 2023). These risks are compounded by economic ine...
Read more

Disparities in Cancer Care for Indigenous Peoples

Disparities in Cancer Care for Indigenous Peoples   Several factors contribute to the inequities in cancer care for Indigenous peoples in Canada. Cancer rates are higher among the Indigenous population, with increased morbidity and mortality observed in Ontario (Jumah et al., 2023; Ahmed & Shahid, 2012). This disparity is shaped by multiple factors, including intergenerational trauma and barriers to accessing care (Jumah et al., 2023; Horrill et al., 2019).   Individual-level factors include lower rates of participation in cancer screening programs (Jumah et al., 2023; Horrill et al., 2019). Many Indigenous communities are located in remote areas, often without the necessary equipment or staffing to provide adequate care (Jumah et al., 2023). Additionally, treatment and screening locations are frequently far from home, creating financial burdens due to the cost of travel, which deters many from seeking care (Jumah et al., 2023; Horrill et al., 2019). The legacy of co...
Read more