Patient engagement is about becoming involved in the health system to improve care, information and support services. Patients and families provide input into the design, delivery, and evaluation of healthcare services.
Some ways to engage with the health system include:
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sitting on patient care or project committees
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providing your voice at events
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providing feedback about the care you receive
The BC government believes patients should be partners in the design and evaluation of the provincial health care system. Their aim with patient engagement is to improve health care quality and inform future health care directions.
Patient-centered care and support for patients' involvement in improving quality of care and health system redesign is the first of eight priorities in the Ministry of Health's strategic plan, Setting Priorities for the BC Health System (Feb. 2014).
The strategic plan encourages patients, families and caregivers to be partners in health care through:
- participation in their own care
- decision-making about that care
- choosing their level of participation in decision-making
- quality improvement and
- healthcare redesign
Patient Voices Network BC matches patients, families and caregiver volunteers who want to voice their ideas with healthcare providers and administrators.
