Paying it forward - Volunteer Spotlight: Hélène Hamilton, Patient and Family Advisor
When Hélène Hamilton was 19 years old, she experienced kidney failure and came to St. Joe's as a transfer patient because she needed more specialized care.
Very ill, younger than most of the other patients on the Nephrology unit, and away from her family and hometown, Hélène initially felt unsettled, isolated and alone. She then met Sister Joan, one of the nurses on the unit.
"My world at St. Joe's changed. She understood that we needed to be seen as a person first and a patient second. She never treated me as an ill person but rather as a person with an illness. I transformed from a bed-ridden 19-year-old to a regular teenager again," says Hélène.
Today, Hélène is a Patient and Family Advisor at St. Joe's. By sharing her perspective with staff and physicians, she helps to ensure that other patients feel the way she did when Sister Joan cared for her. Read on to learn more about Hélène's impact on St. Joe's, our patients, and their families through her time volunteering as a Patient and Family Advisor for the past seven years.
Why did you become a Patient and Family Advisor at St. Joe's?
Through my vast experience as a St. Joe's patient and in my career as a manager in an agency serving vulnerable people, I felt I had something to offer and something to give back to the place that had supported me for several decades. Through the years, I have been constantly amazed by the staff's willingness to do great work, to go beyond the expected and to improve, both individually and as a system. I wanted to be part of that.
How do you think Patient and Family Advisors impact patient care at St. Joe's?
My role is to ensure that the patient and family perspective is considered before making decisions or making a change that impacts patient and family care at St. Joe's. By being part of these discussions, PFAs have the opportunity to help shape services to be more positive, responsive and inclusive for all.
What are some of the initiatives you have helped with that have made a difference for patients and their families?
I have taken part in several hospital projects that I believe have a positive impact on life at St. Joe's. For example, I participated in the design of communication boards in patient rooms, which help care teams engage with patients and families when developing care plans, and in the development of a Patient and Family Centred Care workshop presented to all new employees at orientation. Over the years, I've also helped the General Internal Medicine team to design and implement many projects with the goal of improving services and care for patients and families in this program.
Above: Hélène with a communication board. In her role as a Patient and Family Advisor, Hélène helped to design the boards.
What is your favourite part about being a Patient and Family Advisor?
I think that my favourite part is when a project I've been working on eventually comes to fruition; when a goal is met and concrete, positive results are achieved by hard work, dedication, shared respect and teamwork.
I am also motivated by being part of committees where staff and PFAs are all on the same team, working toward the same goal. It's encouraging to be volunteering with an organization that is willing to move forward by seeking the patient and family perspective.
How often do you volunteer as a Patient and Family Advisor?
I sit on two different councils – the General Internal Medicine Quality Council and the Corporate Patient and Family Advisory Council. I volunteer approximately 12 hours a month through my participation on both councils.
What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
Family-oriented, compassionate, intuitive
Do you have a go-to coffee or tea order?
I drink black coffee!
Learn more
Click here to learn more about becoming a Patient and Family Advisor today.
When given a chance we believe that everyone, even you, can brighten someone's day and shine as a volunteer at St. Joe's! Join us by visiting www.joinstjoes.ca/volunteer.