BMJ International Forum March 27-29, 2019 in Edinburgh -- patient/family FUNDED!! Application due Jan 11, 2019

[A Former User]

Patient/ Family adviser application to attend International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare: Glasgow 2019

"We recognise the importance of working in partnership with patients and family members to improve the quality and safety of healthcare. At the International Forum, Patient/Family Advisers and Leaders contribute to the energy and transformative experience for all who attend.

This year we are able to offer complimentary registration and reimbursement for travel and accommodation for a limited number of Patient/Family Advisers who are making a contribution to the field of person-and family-centered care.

A Patient/Family Adviser is a person with lived experience as a patient or family member of a patient who is collaborating with a healthcare setting and shows interest in improving the patient experience for all patients and families.

The deadline for all applications is Friday 11 January 2019.
You will be notified of the outcome at the latest by 18 January 2019"

LINK to application

LINK to conference website.

[A Former User]

Thanks for posting this Carolyn. Would you know the dates?

[A Former User]

THANKS Samira!!!

I've made the changes in the topic title with that vital information that I somehow overlooked. The dates are March 27-29. I haven't looked carefully, but I imagine there is a pre-conference day as well, possibly for special seminars, particular audiences (e.g. students) or field trips.

[A Former User]

Wonderful!! Thanks very much Carolyn!!!

[A Former User]

Good morning PAN members. This morning I received confirmation of a scholarship and complementary scholarship to attend this conference. Did any other PAN members also get scholarships to attend? If so, would like to discuss travel plans in advance to facilitate bookings. Thanks for posting the opportunity to apply. This is the first year patient and family advisors are being sponsored; I am super excited to attend!

[A Former User]

HI Sandra!

I got my email confirmation this morning too! Woohoo!

Perhaps we can coordinate flight and hotel so we can take the same leg from Heathrow to Glasgow. There are no non-stop direct flights from Montreal to Glasgow, only to London, as far as I can see.

Congrats! And I hope more people chime in!

Thanks to Carolyn for posting the initial information!

Amy

[A Former User]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We will expect you to carry the PAN flag with you. Be sure to stock up on business cards. This will be a wonderful networking opportunity for sure. Sign up for as many "extras" as you can, for those smaller interest sessions are often the richest experiences. I've attended The BMJ Int'l Forum three times as a presenter and their focus on capacity building for patients and family caregivers is evident. This is great! Woo-hoo!

[A Former User]

Carolyn,

How does one become a speaker at the BMJ International Forum? There will be another one held in Taiwan this fall, and I would love to present something there.

[A Former User]

I would suggest that you talk with the organizers when you get to Edinburgh. There will be a call for abstracts and so on, but they will be interested in having patients contribute presentations. It would be wonderful if you could come back to Canada with a broader invitation for patient presenters, some special sessions moderated and populated by patients and family caregivers on topics that would interest clinicians, support staff, managers, senior administrators and policy leaders.

You and Sandra could make this your mission: capacity development for patients at a truly global conference, as IHI International certainly is. Think about it!!

[A Former User]

Sounds like a good approach. Maybe we can slant the presentation with Amy bringing the family caregiver perspective and mine as a patient. A duo focused presentation. I'm sure if we brainstormed a bit on it we could find common ground.

In looking at the agenda and booking spots to attend sessions, there certainly is an array of topics being presented. I am booking into any related to patient and family as well as others. Carolyn, do you have some sage advice on the kinds of sessions that may be helpful to "well-round" us as PFA's?

Any input you can provide is appreciated.

Thanks!

[A Former User]

You are so right, it is a cornucopia of choices and not enough time (or stamina) to take it all in. In fact, pacing yourself is a big challenge. Be sure to give yourself time and mental energy to talk one-on-one with other participants, not just the presenters. If you attend a session that is especially focussed on patient partnership, for example, there will be a wonderful assortment of professionals in the audience who may be experienced or entirely new to the idea. What's for sure is that they are there because they are curious on how to do partnership better and more effectively. They will be amazed at what you know and what you have been doing. So introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you and find that common ground.

Be sure to spend time in the poster sessions. Some of the most rewarding relationships I've developed (future invitations to present in interesting places in the world) have come from talking with the author in front of their poster on patient engagement. Sometimes I am quite bold in asking challenging questions about why they didn't try this or that, or evaluate this or that. These exchanges can be wonderfully creative and interesting. Because it is one-on-one you really get a chance to share knowledge and experience. Have your contact card handy to swap! And then follow up with articles you've promised, and so on.

This conference is truly global, so don't shy away from learning from someone who looks very different from you or who speaks English with less than full fluency. There is a marvellous diversity in perspectives and experience. Some of the most exciting innovation in community collaboration for better care is happening in the developing world out of necessity, not choice. We can and indeed must learn from them. I've heard about some amazing mental health strategies about connecting up elders as listeners to adolescents with depression and anxiety, for example.

So, how to pick your sessions? Don't worry too much about it, but use every opportunity to interact with others who are there. I hope the organizers create a way for you to identify yourself as a patient partner (name tag colour or label). Also to meet each other, maybe during meal times. BMJ staffer and event coordinator Kyle Rolph (formerly Knox) is an incredibly capable person, both generous and efficient. Don't hesitate to write to her with your suggestions and bright ideas. Kyle is definitely someone to speak with in advance about Edinburgh and to seek advice from for future International Forums. She's very strategically smart and can introduce you to others to help.

As with all large conferences, pace yourself so you don't fall down in the final stretch. That might mean taking off lunch hour for a nap, or skipping a mid-afternoon session so you are refreshed for evening with a small pick-up group. Way too many of the attendees are "kids" with so much more energy than I have, no matter how much I tell myself that I feel 28. So pay attention to self-care, more than you might wish.

You will have a fantastic time. I'm happy to correspond directly at carolyncanfield@mac.com