Patient Partnership Program - supporting family caregivers as integral partners
As part of Mohawk’s ongoing commitment to prioritize patient and family-centered care in education, the School of Health has taken a significant leap with the launch of its Patient Partnership Program, inviting patients and caregivers to play an active role in fostering a culture that acknowledges, values, and supports family caregivers as integral partners.
This exciting initiative aims to build a community of patients and family caregivers with unique experience and knowledge (gained through living with a condition or illness, receiving treatment or supporting a loved one) interested in sharing their perspectives to guide our academic programming and make a profound impact in health education and the delivery of care.
Its core mission is to cultivate a supportive environment where patients and caregivers feel empowered to share their stories, insights, and suggestions for improving healthcare education.
This type of partnership is a powerful way to help integrate patients’ and families’ voices, choices and representation in the classroom. By leveraging a diverse array of firsthand experience, the program aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, enriching students' understanding of patient care from the perspective of those directly affected by it.
Under the leadership of Laura Thomas (Associate Dean, Medical Imaging & Academic Director of the Centre for Integrated and Advanced Medical Imaging (CIAMI)), Sharon Baptist (Accreditation and Program Review Specialist), and Erin Slywchuk (Project Specialist, Academic Initiatives), the Patient Partnership Program has gained momentum and support from local hospitals including St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences.
The inaugural Patient Engagement Lunch & Learn, held in Fall 2023, marked a significant milestone for the pilot project. The session had representation from our allied health students and faculty and featured a panel of three patient advisors from St. Joseph’s Hospital who shared their compelling healthcare journeys, followed by an interactive question-and-answer period. Their narratives sparked meaningful dialogue for the students, who expressed an immense appreciation for the opportunity to learn directly from patients themselves.
Moving forward, Mohawk’s Patient Partnership Program will offer various avenues for patient involvement, including participation in committees, focus groups, co-development of educational materials, and one-on-one interviews. This flexible approach ensures that partners can engage with programs and students in ways that align with their preferences and schedules.
The next patient engagement event is scheduled to take place at the Institute for Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) on June 13, 2024 and will be open to faculty and students of the Medical Radiation Sciences (MedRad), Cardiovascular Technology (CVT), and Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (DCS) programs.
Guests will be joined by John Baptist, a remarkable individual who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017. Through candid storytelling, John will offer insights into his personal challenges and successes within the healthcare system while grappling with the realities of his condition. John’s life has been significantly altered by Parkinson’s disease and his experiences will challenge students to deeply consider the importance of empathy and family/caregiver inclusion, acknowledging the profound impact it has on patients and their support networks.
Accompanying John is Carla Patterson, a devoted wife and mother of two who has had numerous encounters at hospitals and clinics within the Hamilton region. In addition to her own experiences as a patient, Carla became the advocate in her mother’s healthcare journey after she suffered a debilitating stroke only five days after relocating to Ontario. Carla’s insights will offer students a raw understanding of life’s unexpected challenges from the patient/caregiver lens.
For more information about the Patient Partnership Program and upcoming events, please visit Mohawk College’s Patient Partnership Webpage.
