An overview of Vancouver Coastal Health's community engagement framework including its intended use, principles/values, tools/guides, strategies, barriers/risks, success factors, and evaluation:
Organization | Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) |
URL | |
Area(s) of Focus | Community Engagement within Vancouver Coastal Health Authority |
Relevance to Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity | Moderate |
Intended Use | ● Improve understanding of community engagement for VCH decision-makers, managers, and staff ● Understand responsibility to community and patient needs ● Improve clinical quality and health outcomes ● Increase longevity and quality of life for all ● Provide a positive experience while accessing care ● Promote informed choice and involvement in decision-making |
Principles/Values | ● Everyone is a stakeholder ● Diverse voices contribute to better planning and decision-making ● Target those most impacted by the decision ● Consider the entirety of the patient’s journey ● Build healthier workplaces and communities ● Find collective solutions ● Provide people-centered care focusing on best practice and safety ● Value transparency, trust, accountability, integrity, and credibility ● Seek innovation ● Support empowerment, self-responsibility, and self-management |
Tools/Guides | ● Measurement systems that track patient satisfaction ● Contextual analysis to understand aims ● Communication strategy for sharing findings of engagement process ● Public e-newsletter ● VCH website www.vch.ca ● “VCH Pages” on health promotion topics in local newspapers and ethnic-language media |
Strategies | ● Engage community across full spectrum of participation (informing, consulting, involving, collaborating, and empowering) ● Consult with the public to inform health service planning, policy, and operations ● Tailor programs to the needs of the individual and special populations ● Engage marginalized groups (e.g., ethno-cultural communities, people with disabilities, and frail, isolated seniors). ● Evaluate responsiveness and accessibility of programs ● Build capacity in the communities and within organizations ● Increase health literacy ● Report back to advisory committees |
Barriers/Risks | ● A process that does not consider individual needs (e.g., needs of people with disabilities) ● Lack of translation services ● Child-care demands preventing participation |
Success Factors | ● Patient and family involvement in decision-making ● Consulting communities of interest and advisory committees ● Understanding needs of the community ● Sharing information on decision-making ● Considering different perspectives ● Funding and in-kind support for community initiatives ● Listening and responding to feedback |
Evaluation | ● Community health advisory committees and program advisory committees ● VCH internal planning and policy committees (e.g., ethics committee) ● Standing advisory/action, and/or monitoring committees ● Ad-hoc surveys ● Focus groups ● Written report of engagement process that summaries information, issues, and recommendations |
Other Comments | ● Partnerships with National Crime Prevention Centre, Vancouver Agreement, and VCH |
Vancouver Coastal Health (2 020). Community Engagement Framework. Vancouver Coastal Health. Retrieved March 15, 2023 from https://www.vch.ca/sites/default/files/import/
Comments