Representation and access for all through new website

Meeting the information needs of Indigenous peoples through a new health website

As a steering committee member for the Interior Health public website project, Jared provides input on the appearance, content and navigation of the future website – making sure it’s going to be a helpful place for people to access health-care information.  

“My aim was to add value to the project, by identifying language and visuals that speak to a welcoming design. Inclusive of everyone, appealing to all,” says Jared.

Jared has been a strong advocate for representation and access of all people of the B.C. interior within the upcoming website. 

“We need to think about how an Indigenous person would navigate this site. If they’ve never been to the website before, how can we make sure they immediately know they’re in the right place for health-care information?” says Jared.

He has advised the team on the importance of a user-friendly experience on mobile devices, particularly older smartphones.

“I personally know many people in my community who aren’t using the latest iPhone,” says Jared. “We need to ensure we have a level of confidence that people with older devices won’t be left out.”

Respect allows partnerships to thrive

Having public partners involved in healthcare is all about respect, according to Jared. “We all need to learn how to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner, and to get to a place where people can say what they think but show compassion. Public partners should be treated with just as much respect as any other member. We’ll open our door as you open your door.”

“I want to help and I want to see organizations like Interior Health thriving,” says Jared. “The result will be healthier people in our communities.”

To learn more about how public partners guided the design of InteriorHealth.ca, read Check out your new website.

A word about partners

When asked how he likes to be described in his role with Interior Health, Jared says, “Just call me a partner – even a consultant or an ally – someone who is like-minded and passionate about helping people.”

About the author

Karla Warkotsch is a patient experience consultant. She is a passionate advocate for public participation in health care and believes patient input is essential to providing excellent health-care.