Patient and Family Engagement Committee

We Value Your Input

We support a patient and family-centred approach to health care. To ensure our patients are at the centre of everything we do, we need to hear from them and their families.

In addition to the Patient and Family Engagement Committee (PFEC), patients and family members also sit on various hospital committees and provide ad-hoc support to various projects such as reviewing patient materials. Read more under 'Current Opportunities' below.

What is the Patient and Family Engagement Committee?

The Patient and Family Engagement Committee is a partnership between patients and families and the WDMH leadership team. Our goal is to improve quality of care and the patient experience. The committee meets quarterly - the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1:00.

The Patient and Family Engagement Committee will:

• Provide input to the hospital leadership team on practices and initiatives related to patient and family centred care.
• Provide feedback on items referred to the Committee, including policies, procedures, care practices, materials and communication strategies.
• Participate in the annual development and review of the hospital’s Quality Improvement Plan and Senior Friendly Plan.
• Respond to requests to partner on committees, project teams, task forces, and working groups related to enhancing the patient experience.
• Provide feedback on education, policy, and program development relevant to the Committee at the corporate, program/department or unit level.
• Provide the Senior Management Team with an annual report outlining the Committee’s work.

Materials that have been reviewed and/or approved by PFEC members receive a Seal of Approval to recognize this work. 

Meet our PFEC Members 

• Julie Betts, Winchester
• Debbie Courneyea, Morewood
• Terry MacLellan, Nepean
• Debra McLean, Kemptville (Co-Chair)
• Chris McNairn, Morrisburg
• Vince Seguin, Metcalfe
• Bonnie Van Moorsel, Morrisburg
• Lisa Vaters, Embrun  
• Maureen Thibeau
• Julie Cyr, Winchester

Current Opportunities

WDMH has many different committees and we want to ensure the patient's voice is at the table. Below are just a few examples. Most of these committees meet about 4 to 6 times per year. 

• Quality Committee of the Board
• WDMH and Dundas Manor Ethics - A forum for review of ethical issues and research projects. Members are responsible to undergo education and training requirements.
• Surgical Care Team - A forum to discuss optimal care of surgery patients
• Maternal/Child Care Team  - A forum to discuss optimal care for obstetrical, neonatal and post partum services
• Emergency Care Team  - A forum to discuss optimal care for emergency patients
• Diagnostic Imaging Patient Safety - To support a safety management system for DI
• Diagnostic Imaging Quality  - To ensure DI meets accreditation and regulatory requirements and to ensure safety, effectiveness and efficiency
• Complex Continuing Care  - A forum to discuss optimal care for CCC patients
• Cancer Care Team - A forum to discuss optimal care for cancer  patients
• Medicine Care Team  - A forum to discuss optimal care for medicine patients
• Senior Friendly Hospital  - A forum to discuss enhancing senior care, including the Senior Friendly Hospital strategy 
• Joint Occupational Health and Safety  - A forum for workers to participate in health and safety in the workplace; the committee identifies possible dangers/hazards to workers and makes recommendations
• Emergency Preparedness - Responsible for the creation and monitoring of emergency codes and procedures that would be initiated in response to a threat
• Material Evaluation  - Responsible for evaluation of all products coming into the hospital
• Leadership 
• Wellness Committee & Recreation  - Help to raise the profile of wellness and happiness in the workplace 
• Infection Control  - A forum of multidisciplinary members that are responsible for monitoring the infection control program.

What do Patient and Family Advisors do?

• Tell their story
• Participate in committee work
• Review and help create education and information materials
• Special projects

What qualifications are required?

No special qualifications are necessary. You are eligible if you have had a recent experience at WDMH (within two years) either as a patient or family member of a patient. You must be 18 years of age or older.

What is most important

Application Process

To learn more about becoming a PFEC member, get involved in ad-hoc projects, or sit on a hospital committee, please contact Megan Derick at 613-774-2422 ext. 6352.

Download the application form

Download the Quality Committee Patient Representative Application Form