Health Care Consent & Advance Care Planning Community of Practice

What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?

Communities of Practice (CoP) are groups of people who share an interest or a passion for something they do, and a desire to share knowledge and learn as they interact regularly.

The community: In pursuing their interest in the domain, members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information. They build relationships that enables members to learn from one another.

The practice: Members develop a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems.

The benefits of this type of mutuality and co-participation include:

  • More perspective and understanding of the problems and issues = Improved solutions
  • Shared practice = Less duplication and reduced cost and time
  • Shared knowledge = Stronger workforce and more sources of expertise
  • Meaningful participation = Improved performance and outcomes
  • Increased trust and confidence = Increased success and sustainability

In response to the need for consistent HCC ACP provincial awareness, resources and practice utilizing the Ontario legal framework, the CoP was created to support clinicians, administrators, caregivers, policymakers, researchers, educators and leaders who are committed to the promotion of HCC ACP in Ontario. This CoP is dedicated to advancing awareness, knowledge, skills, practices and increasing system capacity related to the unique nature of HCC ACP in Ontario.

Who can participate?

Any healthcare practitioner, administrator, caregiver, policymaker, researcher, educator, leader or volunteer who is interested in coming together to exchange information and promote HCC ACP in Ontario. The meetings are held via Zoom. Please note that some levels of membership are open for anyone to join while others require being appointed or endorsed.

 

 

Opportunities within the Community of Practice

 

 

Leadership Advisory Team

  • The Leadership Advisory Team consists of volunteer members who are committed to advancing awareness, knowledge and skills related to HCC ACP in Ontario. The members are a diverse group of experts in the legal, policy, clinical, operational, knowledge translation and implementation domains of HCC ACP.
  • Appointed by HPCO, as recommended by members of the Leadership Advisory Team, or others as appropriate, to advise on opportunities, issues and solutions, as well as recommended Ontario tools, resources, promotion, awareness, etc. The Leadership Team also leads material reviews.

Clinical Advisory Team

  • Appointed by HPCO, as recognized clinical leads in HCC ACP in Ontario.
  • Advises HPCO and the Leadership Advisory Team on opportunities, issues and solutions for enhancing system wide awareness, skills and capacity building across interdisciplinary clinicians.
  • Develops and recommends appropriate Ontario-based tools and resources etc. Provides Skills Building education for clinicians.

Regional Champions

  • Annual Expression of Interest launches in the Spring of every year. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply. Applications are reviewed and vetted by HPCO and the Leadership Advisory Team. Successful applicants are required to complete an approximately 50 hour mentorship training over the course of 4 months. Individuals who successfully complete the mentorship training are then recognized champions in HCC ACP in Ontario who have a lead role for promoting and implementing HCC ACP ideally at a regional level.
  • Members meet to provide a forum for information exchange, knowledge transfer and share information about HCC ACP initiatives within the Ontario framework; and to promote the recommended Ontario tools and resources and build awareness.
  • View the current members

Organizational Champions

  • Representatives from across organizations (e.g., hospitals, long term care, community, social services, hospices etc.,) that have a lead role for promoting and implementing HCC ACP within their organization, sector or community.
  • Applicants must be endorsed by their organization to take this lead role for promoting HCC ACP education and to facilitate knowledge translation within the organization or community.
  • Members meet to provide a forum for information exchange, knowledge transfer and share information about HCC ACP initiatives within the Ontario framework; and to promote the recommended Ontario tools and resources and build awareness.
  • Members must be vigilant and exemplary in sharing resources, to ensure consistency with Ontario legal framework.

General Membership

This membership is open to everyone and does not require endorsement from anyone or any training.  We welcome you to join if you are interested in expanding your knowledge of health care consent and advance care planning and want to share this knowledge with others. 

ACP Ontario Workshop in a Box Lead Trainers

  • Across the province there is a need for education and awareness on Advance Care Planning for the public. With the intent to ensure that the information and materials shared are compliant within the Ontario framework, the ACP Ontario Workshop in a Box was created.
  • The Lead Trainers are health service providers that are connected to an organization who can support them in building and sustaining a team of volunteer Facilitators.
  • Lead Trainers must complete the Person-Centred Decision-Making E-Learning Modules and other appropriate training sessions.
  • Members must be vigilant and exemplary in seeking facilitators to participate in presentations, as well as seek opportunities to provide presentations in the community.

ACP Ontario Workshop in a Box Facilitators

  • Facilitators are volunteers who are interested in presenting Advance Care Planning workshops to the general public.
  • Presentations are to be given to a variety of audiences in a friendly and courteous manner.
  • Required to successfully complete the appropriate orientation and training, including the Person-Centred Decision-Making E-Learning Modules.
  • Members must be vigilant and exemplary in seeking opportunities to provide presentations in the community.

Cross Sector Working Group

  • Comprised of a variety of provincial associations interested in Advance Care Planning including Ontario Long Term Care Association, Ontario Medical Association, Ontario Hospital Association, Ontario Long Term Care Clinicians, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario and more.
  • Members act as the liaison to their organization and network for communication and dissemination of resources.
  • Support positive change and advancement with HCC ACP practices across all sectors in Ontario, including but not limited to Long Term Care, Hospital, Community, and Primary Care etc.
  • Be vigilant and exemplary in ensuring resources used are consistent with Ontario legal framework.
  • Incorporate a knowledge translation approach in all of our activities to ensure that best practice theory is translated to practice and is sustainable.

Research Working Group

  • Membership consists of researchers who are focused on ACP and align their work with the Ontario Legal Framework and current available tools and resources.
  • Members work towards clarifying confusions and dispelling misconceptions to increase compliance in Ontario.
  • Supporting and sharing with one another to enhance knowledge and advance common HCC ACP practices in Ontario.

Pediatric Advance Care Planning Working Group

  • Comprised of pediatric and legal experts across the province who work towards creating opportunities to influence policy and system issues related to Pediatric Advance Care Planning using an Ontario legal framework.
  • Incorporate a knowledge translation approach in all activities to ensure that best practice theory is translated to practice and is sustainable.
  • Members create awareness, develop educational materials and engage with organizations who serve the pediatric community within Ontario to ensure consistent resources and information are aligned and utilized.