Change Day British Columbia (BC) is building on the successful global movement ignited by the National Health Service (NHS) in England. Countries from all over the world have launched their own change days, spreading the energy and excitement to improve care globally. Over a million people have made pledges and British Columbia is now taking part.
BC, like England and other Change Day countries, believes that individual acts of change – small or big – can combine and lead to significant improvements for health and social care. We have seen the possibilities created as part of Change Day globally and felt a need to bring this to BC as well. The campaign launched on February 19, 2015 and we were thrilled to have had Helen Bevan, from the NHS Improving Quality, join us for this event.
Change Day BC is on Thursday, October 15, 2015. We are inviting anyone involved in health and social care to make a pledge any time between now and Change Day, then to join a province-wide movement by acting on that pledge for one day or every day. People are invited to make their pledge anytime – the sooner, the better – and then to act on their pledge. Our goal is to reach 5000 pledges by 15-10-15.
Change Day is being supported by partners across the province. We are inviting individuals to be ambassadors for Change Day and join other “catalysts” to promote, connect and lead activities throughout BC. These individuals don’t need to be in formal leadership roles; they are volunteer champions for Change Day BC.
We’ve provided a variety of supports to anyone interested in helping to promote and spread the power of Change Day. From there, people across the province are being invited to make their pledges online at: changedaybc.ca or by completing and mailing in a pledge postcard. But most importantly, we are inviting people to act on their pledges.
Even seemingly small pledges can have a positive effect. When combined with all of the other pledges, we can create a tremendous wave of improvement that ripples throughout our system. So for everyone in British Columbia, the question now is … what will you pledge?
Early pledges for Change Day BC have started coming in and we are feeling so inspired by the wonderful ideas and energy!
“I pledge to better understand the patient experience by spending a day wearing patient pajamas and walking around with an IV pole and simulated IV.” Ian Wood, Nurse Practitioner, Interior Health
“I pledge to be more physically active and put 10,000 steps into my daily life.” Pat Owen, Patient
"I am pledging to invite folks “to have the #courage2act and speak up to make care safer.” Ron Collins, Anesthesiologist, Interior Health
We look forward to more pledges and action moving forward!
Change Day BC is being coordinated by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council and key partners like us, who believe that British Columbia’s health, community and social care systems are powered by the creativity, passion and commitment of their patients, providers and administrators.
The BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (the Council) was created in 2008 to provide a provincial perspective to quality improvement and patient safety activities. The Council is tasked with bringing health system stakeholders together in a collaborative partnership to promote and inform a provincially coordinated, innovative, and patient-centred approach to quality and patient safety in British Columbia.
Change Day BC is online at www.ChangeDayBC.ca, Instagram as ChangeDayBC and Twitter with the account @ChangeDayBC and hashtag #ChangeDayBC.
Join or view pledges at www.changedaybc.ca. Have a question? Email us at [email protected].