icon, to help answer common questions or help you find your way before and during your hospital visit.Patient and Family Partners
At Unity Health Toronto, our vision is The best care experiences. Created together. Achieving this vision relies on the continued partnerships and collaboration we have with our Patient and Family Partners (PFPs) at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Our PFPs work beside us to advance our culture of patient and family partnered care by bringing the voice of patients, families and our communities to everything we do.
Patient and Family Partner recruitment
What is the role of our Patient and Family Partners?
As volunteers, our PFPs voice the important perspectives and diverse views of the people we care for and the broader communities we serve. PFPs at St. Joseph’s inform organizational goals and initiatives including but not limited to quality and safety priorities, policies and procedures, communication plans and educational resources. PFPs fulfill this role by drawing from their own personal experience as a patient or a family member of a patient and leveraging their overall life and/or career experiences.
Who are our Patient and Family Partners?
Our PFPs are individuals who have been a patient or a family member of a patient at St. Joseph’s and are interested and willing to partner with other PFPs, hospital staff, physicians, volunteers and students to advance our culture of patient and family partnered care. We are committed to working with a diverse group of PFPs who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. As such, we encourage applications to become a PFP from persons with disabilities, racialized persons, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people, individuals of all sexual orientation and gender identities and others who may contribute to the diversity of our patient population.
Requirements to become a Patient and Family Partner
Understanding the criteria to become a PFP is key to ensuring a strong partnership. Please take a moment to review the requirements:
Required experience: PFPs must have experience at Providence Healthcare as a patient or caregiver/family member of a patient within the past three years.
Age: PFPs must be 18 years of age or older.
Geographic requirement: PFPs must live within St. Joseph’s catchment area (from Lake Ontario to Eglinton Ave., from Etobicoke Creek to Ossington Ave./Bathurst St.).
Time commitment: PFPs involved in hospital initiatives or working groups must commit to a minimum of one year, PFPs can choose the activities they wish to be involved in but are expected to be engaged in at least one activity during each year of their term. PFPs interested in joining the Patient and Family Council must commit to a minimum of two years.
In the words of our Patient and Family Partners
The following quotes come from some of our current PFPs at St. Joseph’s.
“To me, the PFP role is the centre of the health care universe. It helps support patient and healthcare providers to work together to bring their best game to the community.”
– Diane, St. Joseph’s PFP
“For me, the hospital first and foremost is a community. I have used many of the services here as a patient, including helping me to re-learn the most basic skills after having suffered a brain injury. As a PFP, I have taken part in several initiatives, through which I have been able to give back as well as rebuild my cognitive, social and language skills. I feel privileged to be part of this community where individuals are approached with dignity and respect.”
– Judie, St. Joseph’s PFP
Patient and Family Partner recruitment
We are not currently recruiting new PFPs. Keep an eye on this page and our social media channels for updates when we are in active recruitment.
How to apply
We are not currently recruiting new PFPs. Keep an eye on this page and our social media channels for updates when we are in active recruitment.
If you would like to receive additional information on this role, please contact our Experience and Engagement Team by email at partnerships@stjoestoronto.ca or phone at 416-530-6486 ext. 3379.