Patient & Family Advisory Council

Patient engagement and partnership has been an overall priority for Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team (CKOHT) since 2020. It is a key component for co-designing a local patient-centred health system. CKOHT has had a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) for over 3 years. The PFAC has been involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of local health care improvements and clinical initiatives. This work has been guided by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)’s Spectrum for Engagement to engage patient advisors in projects and initiatives by: Informing, Consulting, Involving, Collaborating, and/or Empowering their participation.

100% of CKOHT Working Groups have PFAC representation or representation from community members with lived experience to ensure person-centered care in all of the work that we do. We emphasize PFAC’s motto of “Nothing About Us, Without Us” to engage with patient advisors in the full spectrum of planning, implementation and evaluation stages of our work.

CKOHT has utilized the Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool (PPEET) developed by McMaster University for the past 3 years to evaluate the patient advisors’ experience in participating in the PFAC. PFAC members were surveyed using the PPEET which found the following high level results:

High satisfaction rate and overall excellent engagement participating in the PFAC
Dedicated CKOHT staff and administrative support is key for high PFAC engagement
PFAC members feel valued, respected, listened to, and influential in their patient advisor role

CKOHT will continue to advance and progress with patient advisors co-designing collaborative clinical improvement initiatives at the local level.

CKOHT Seeking New Patient Advisors for Primary Care Network

The Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team (CKOHT) is now accepting applications for Patient Advisors to join the Chatham-Kent Primary Care Network (PCN)—a collaborative initiative bringing together family doctors, nurse practitioners, health care professionals, community partners, and patient partners to improve access and coordination of primary care across Chatham-Kent.
Patient Advisors play a vital role in shaping care that is more connected, patient-centered, and easier to navigate. By sharing lived experiences and insights, advisors help ensure that planning and decision-making reflect what matters most to the people we serve.

Position Details:

Term: Minimum 1-year, with opportunity for renewal (recommended 2 years)
Time Commitment: Average 5 hours/month (can vary by month)
Compensation: Honorarium of $25/hour, paid in six-month intervals

Key Responsibilities:

Participate in discussions, working groups, and initiatives
Provide feedback on programs, and services
Work with other patient partners to identify opportunities for improvement
Support inclusive community engagement and consultation efforts

Most meetings are held virtually, with occasional in-person sessions in Chatham-Kent. We welcome Patient Advisors from all backgrounds—whether you currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, or are seeking one. We value diverse lived experiences, including those who have received care or supported others as caregivers within the local primary health care system.
Join us to make primary care in Chatham-Kent stronger, easier to access, and better for everyone!

Interested?

Please fill out this Expression of Interest Form below:

Please note: You do not need healthcare experience to apply. We are looking for people with lived experience as patients or caregivers in Chatham-Kent with the local primary care system.

Patient Advisors are valued partners who contribute lived experience and insight to ensure care planning, evaluation, and decision-making reflect what matters most to patients, families, and caregivers. They participate in governance discussions, working groups, and specific initiatives, provide feedback on policies, programs, and services, and co-design engagement strategies to support inclusive community consultation. Advisors help the Chatham-Kent PCN strengthen patient-centered, coordinated, and accessible care while upholding principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural humility. Please complete the below to express your interest in the role

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Phone Number *

Preferred way for us to contact you: *

Phone
Email

Tell us a bit about yourself. What life experiences do you have with primary care in Chatham-Kent? For example, do you have a family doctor or nurse practitioner that you regularly see for health concerns? What do you know about primary care in Chatham-Kent? (Please do not include any sensitive personal health information and share only what you are comfortable sharing). *

Why are you interested in this role? What motivates you to get involved in improving primary care in Chatham-Kent? *

What communities do you feel connected to? (Examples: seniors, people with disabilities, newcomers, 2SLGBTQIA+, rural residents, Indigenous, Black or racialized communities, etc.) *

Do you need any supports to participate? (For example, technical assistance, transportation, etc) *

If yes, please tell us what would help (e.g., transportation, interpreter, internet access).

interested help the

Would you like to be added to a list for future opportunities to help out with the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team? *

Patient Declaration of Values

The Patient Declaration of Values, drafted by the Ministerʼs Patient and Family Advisory Council in consultation with Ontarians, is to articulate patientsʼ and caregiversʼ expectations of Ontarioʼs health care system. The Declaration is intended to serve as a compass for the individuals and organizations who are involved in health care and reflects a summary of the principles and values that patients and caregivers say are important to them.

Click here to read the Declaration.

Join Our Team!

CKOHT is looking for patient advisors to join our team! The Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team recognizes the value of lived experience, and has created a team of patient advisors called the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).

We encourage individuals with unique backgrounds or experiences to apply to join this team, including applicants who self-identify as a member of a racial, ethnic, cultural equity deserving group. We are especially looking to add council members that can share their experiences accessing and receiving care in CK from the perspective of a marginalized or vulnerable persons as we work to redesign care experiences and improve outcomes for all. We are also looking for individuals with experience with accessing and utilizing home care (as a patient, caregiver or a family member of a patient).

The time commitment is approximately 5 hours per month and the majority of the meetings are virtual using Microsoft Teams as an online platform. Patient advisors are compensated for their time. Our Patient and Family Advisory Council is a very dedicated & welcoming group of patient partners, with a high satisfaction rate of participating on the PFAC. In fact, in a recent survey in 2024, 100% of CKOHT patient advisors reported that:

They are confident that the CKOHT takes the feedback provided by the PFAC into consideration;
Participating in the PFAC is a good use of their time;
The work of the PFAC makes a difference to the work of the CKOHT; and,
Overall satisfaction with their participation in PFAC.

If you are interested in joining our partnership as a patient advisor, please contact us.