Christina Spencer's blog

Here's another edition of our most interesting reads of the week! Join us on Twitter @PatientsAssocCa or on Facebook to receive more frequent updates.

CTV -- "... In the medical world, a patient’s ability to understand medical language is called “health literacy” and most of us are pretty low in it. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly nine out of 10 adults have difficulty handling medical information, advice and health product labels."

At the February 25th Patients' Association Open Meeting, renowned Art Therapist Linda Nicholas facilitated a workshop on telling the patient experience through graphic expression. For those unfamiliar with art as a therapeutic technique, the method is generally understood in two ways: to treat the art-making process as therapeutic in itself, or by using art to facilitate the transference process between the therapist and the client making art (more on this here).

After scouring the internet and endless Twitter feeds, we've compiled a short-list of great articles related to patient and family centred care and patient engagement. Have a look!

The Family and Patient Advisory Council at Sudbury's Health Sciences North have suggested a novel idea toward improving the patient experience in their emergency room. They've likened the idea to having "Wal-Mart greeters" in their emergency room. A staff member from Health Sciences explains the idea for the new role:

“It would be someone who would talk to you and say 'Can I get you a glass of water?' or 'You're cold. Can I get you a blanket? or 'Your situation seems to have worsened. Let me get the nurse, and she'll come and check you.' ”

Northumberland PATH is the first system-wide patient, caregiver, provider co-design partnership of its kind in Ontario. The project's aim: to improve healthcare transitions and experiences for seniors with chronic conditions in the Central East and offer game-changing lessons for our system. Watch the video now!

We were delighted to come across this Globe and Mail article At Toronto's Mount Sinai, parents get a crash course in caring for their preemie.

Healthy Debate -- 'Hospitals are inherently conservative institutions and, as such, have been relative latecomers to adopt social media... As they enter the social media fray, hospitals face a host of challenges and decisions.