My Care Guide

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

The Patient Relations Office works with patients and families and health care teams, to understand, uphold and promote Patient Rights and Responsibilities.

Our Guiding Principles 

Patient and family centred care is grounded in four principles, and defines the type of care that the patients should expect.

1. Dignity and Respect: Patient and family perspectives and choices are heard and honoured. Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds are a part of care planning and decision making
2. Communication and Information Sharing: Health care providers share complete information with patients and families in ways that are clear, well-timed, correct, and useful to help patients and families participate in care and decision making. Patients and families share all important information with members of their care team
3. Collaboration and Empowerment: Patients, families and health care providers collaborate in policy and program development, in professional education, in research and evaluation, and in the delivery of care. Patients are empowered to participate in experiences that give them control and independence.
4. Comprehensive and Coordinated: Patients and families receive care that provides physical and emotional comfort and is safe. Patients and families experience care that has continuity and smooth transitions.

Patient and Family-Centred Care

Patient and Family Centred Care is about providing care that is respectful, compassionate, and culturally responsive. This care meets the needs, values, cultural backgrounds and beliefs of patients and their family members by working together. 

Here at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, patients and their family members are at the centre of the care journey. We also receive feedback from patients and family members to help make decisions that will have an impact on the systems and processes used to deliver care. At a patient level, we do this through actively partnering with patients and families. At a system level, we invite patients and family members to participate across the program through a number of opportunities. These include patient satisfaction surveys, memberships on various committees and project groups, and through our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) which has been in place since 2012.

Patient and Family Advisory Council

The PFAC is made up of patients, family members and health care providers. The goal of the PFAC is to help improve the overall experience of patients. Each year, the PFAC works with the cancer program to find opportunities for improvement and to make sure that the patient voice is at the centre of all that we do. The shared experiences of the members of the PFAC remind the clinical team of what is important to patients and families.