Healthcare Excellence Canada’s Patient Engagement Framework
This framework outlines the ways Healthcare Excellence Canada embeds patient, caregiver and community perspectives into our programming, activities and initiatives.
Why it matters
Strong patient engagement is built on trust and relationships, ensuring decisions reflect lived experiences and lead to better care.
But knowing where to start isn’t always easy. This framework helps by showing there’s no single ‘right’ way to engage — instead, it guides you and your partners in choosing the approach that best fits your work and context.
Who is it for
This resource is for:
- Patients, families and caregivers who want to know what to expect
- Staff and teams who work with patient partners
- Organizational leaders looking to build a culture of engagement and strengthen engagement practices
- Anyone who wants to adapt a proven framework to fit local needs
When Is a Framework More Than a Framework?
Discover how patient partners and healthcare organizations across Canada are bringing HEC’s Patient Engagement Framework to life — not just in theory, but in practice.
This blog highlights real stories of leadership, collaboration and meaningful engagement — and shows how this flexible, purpose-built framework is helping foster true partnership in care.
How it was developed
This framework was co-designed with patient partners from HEC’s Patient Partner Network, engagement leaders, and HEC staff. We also worked closely with interest holders from across the country — including many from the National Health Engagement Network.. Through pan-Canadian discussions and reviews, they shared what works — and what doesn’t. Their insights shaped both the structure of the framework and the language used to describe engagement.
Partners asked us to move away from the idea of “levels” and a linear process. Instead, the framework highlights “ways” of engaging, presented in a circle — a clear sign that all approaches to partnering hold value.
HEC’s Patient Engagement Framework was adapted from the International Association for Public Participation’s IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation.
Download the Patient Engagement Framework
Related Resources
Want more? These related tools help you use the framework in practice:
{{currentEntry.friendlyTitle.length > 0 ? currentEntry.friendlyTitle : currentEntry.title}}
- {{param_allText}}
- {{decodeURI(filterType.title).replaceAll('+', ' ').replaceAll('%26', '&')}}
- {{param_allText}}
- {{decodeURI(filterType.title).replaceAll('+', ' ').replaceAll('%26', '&')}}
- {{param_allText}}
- {{decodeURI(filterType.title).replaceAll('+', ' ').replaceAll('%26', '&')}}
{{currentEntry.friendlyTitle.length > 0 ? currentEntry.friendlyTitle : currentEntry.title}}
Questions or ideas?
We’d love to hear how you’re using the framework — or help you get started.
