CUPS Client Advisory Committee off to a great start

We talk a lot about patient-centred care and integrated care. Our entire philosophy at CUPS is built around that approach, where we’re not only meeting the patient where they are at, but we’re listening to them and building support systems around them based on their individual needs. 

Our commitment to this collaborative approach with our clients is one reason we have officially started a Client Advisory Committee at CUPS. 

The goal is simple: to learn from and grow alongside our members to elevate and strengthen CUPS’ services and key programming. 

A new initiative

Inspired by other organizations operating similar committees — Poverty Talks!, Calgary Homeless Foundation and AHS’ Provincial Patient & Family Advisory Council —  CUPS has been actively discussing the concept since 2021 and early this year, officially started the CUPS Client Advisory Committee. 

By gaining insight and perspective from the people we work with and for directly, CUPS continues to elevate programming and services by ensuring clients are receiving the support they need to move towards reaching their goals. We are inspired to know that they also want to help their friends and family access similar supports within our scope.

In fact, that is one of the clear pieces of feedback we’ve received so far. Our clients want to be able to guide their fellow community members to us and understand how they can help their friends and family with accessing CUPS services and supports.

We’ve also heard from some committee participants that they want to have a better sense of the different programs we provide. Some clients come to us for one single purpose, such as a doctor visit. They don’t always realize the scope and volume of support options available to them. 

Now what?

Part of our commitment with this initiative at CUPS is that the feedback goes somewhere. While this committee is not the venue for service complaints — there’s another process for that — we are able to take valuable feedback and insight to the different departments and improve the level of care we can provide. From sharing updates with our Senior Leadership Team and our Social Justice Committee, we are working on implementable steps to ensure feedback is properly received and acted upon. 

The committee will be meeting monthly for now and will be reviewed on a regular basis.