Dorothy Mary Senior is one of the organization’s patient and family experience advisors (PFEA), contributing to health-care quality, safety, research and meaningful patient and family engagement.
“Be the change” is not just a phrase to Dorothy. As a retired 40-year veteran of the health-care system and draw
ing on her numerous personal experiences as a patient and as a family member of loved ones accessing health care, Dorothy volunteers as a PFEA, an integral part of the patient and family lens for patient safety, quality, and health-care improvement. Dorothy’s PFEA engagement commitment includes activities such as supporting Canadian Patient Safety Week events and serving as a mock surveyor for accreditation processes. She is helping to select and implement the new patient health record as a member of the CorCare Patient Advisory Council, she is supporting improvements for emergency and surgical wait times, and has worked with Quality of Care NL, the SPARK project Screening for Poverty and Related Social Determinants of Health, and the NL Health Accord. Dorothy received the 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors of Distinction Award in recognition of her time and effort in healthcare.
More About the Patient and Family Experience Advisor Program
A patient and family experience advisor is someone who has received care in recent years, has multiple prior experiences as a patient or family supporter, and is willing to share their experience to make a positive impact on health care. These individuals play a key role in shaping better care for everyone. NL Health Services has over 100 patient and family experience advisors across the province. They participate in many ways, from providing input on projects and activities to serving on advisory councils and contributing to leadership recruitment.