Queen’s Glaxo Wellcome Clinical Education Centre (GWCEC) Volunteer Patient Program provides hands-on learning for future doctors, nurses, occupational and physical therapy students in a controlled environment. Through the planning and delivery of educational initiatives, the Faculty of Health Sciences teachers use the CEC to offer creative clinical education that is based on patient-centered care .
Since its inception in 1972 as the Clinical Learning Centre, Kingston community volunteers have been helping to teach the health science students. A fully accessible facility, the GWCEC is specifically designed to replicate a variety of hospital and community-based clinical settings.
The GWCEC enhances traditional opportunities for students to learn and develop their clinical and communication skills in a unique experiential setting that is very close to the real world where they will eventually be working . Key to our success is the role of Kingston citizens who willingly participate.
The teaching and learning connection between the Volunteer Patients (VPs) and students is condensed through a variety of opportunities where the students practice their clinical and communication skills (i.e., histories, interviews, and/or physical examinations) and the VPs share their authentic information. Depending on the type of session, students may ask the VP questions regarding health history, daily routine, psycho-social aspects of their lives or family background. This questioning can be very personal. The VPs are in control of the depth of information they are willing to provide and are not obligated in any way to talk about matters they do not wish to share. Bound by the health professional’s Code of Ethics, VPs can be assured that all information is kept in the strictest of confidence.
Who are Volunteer Patients?
VPs are people who allow medical, nursing, and occupational or physio therapy students to interview them about their health, family and lifestyle; or to conduct non-invasive physical examinations. They:
· are people of any age (infants, youth, adolescents or older adults)
· come from all walks of life
· may be healthy or living with an illness or disability
VPs are “real people” for the student to interact with, and provide the student learner with feedback on his or her communication style and interaction.
The VPs find these sessions interesting and informative. They also learn from the experience, and gain satisfaction in knowing they are making a difference in helping future health care professionals learn their “people” skills.
How often would I work?
As a VP you would receive an orientation tour of the Centre. At this time you would be asked to fill out an information form regarding your health and sign a Consent Form. This usually takes about an hour.
During the academic year (September to November and January to April) VPs are carefully matched to the sessions and course requirements. Most VPs are called during the fall term, and usually come in about once or twice a month. Scheduling is done at the VPs convenience and the type of session for which you are best suited.
Must I participate in physical examinations?
You may choose not to participate in sessions involving physical examinations. As a VP, you decide what sessions you would feel comfortable doing.
Will I be a research subject?
There may be times when teachers wish to use all or part of the sessions for research purposes. In such cases, you would decide if you wish to participate or not. A separate consent would be required.
Do Volunteer Patient sessions involve diagnosis or treatment?
These learning sessions are not a substitute for care, advice or treatment. Our students are at the very early stages of their learning and are not ready to perform these skills. Your participation will help prepare them by providing opportunities for them to practice the basics, such as taking a health history, listening to the heart or lungs, or learning the developmental differences between a 6 month old and 2 year old.
What about transportation or parking?
If you drive, we have a few parking spaces which we assign to VPs. If we are not able to provide you with one of our spaces, we will reimburse you for any street metered parking or use of the KGH underground parking facility.
If you use public transportation, we provide taxi transportation or will reimburse you for using the bus. If you need to use the Access Bus, we will reimburse you by providing you with tickets to cover your trips.
How do I get involved?
If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Patient, please contact:
Cheryl Descent
Volunteer Patient Program Coordinator and Community Liaison
613-533-2380 or email Cheryl at cheryl.descent@queensu.ca.
