Patient Partnerships and Engagement
At Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC), we recognize that purposeful patient engagement is fundamental to transforming the health system and improving the quality and safety of care. Patients, caregivers, and community members offer insights that lead to better, more sustainable improvements in healthcare and health systems.
The Patient Safety, Equity and Engagement team at HEC supports individuals working within the health system, including patient partners, healthcare teams and HEC staff, to meaningfully engage patients, caregivers and communities in healthcare transformation.
Our approach
Grounded in the insights gathered during the 2022 ‘Co-Design’ initiative (PDF) and our commitment to grow as an engagement-capable environment, our approach to patient engagement and partnership is iteratively co-developed with patient partners, staff, and engagement leaders. This ensures our engagement is purposeful, inclusive, and reflective of diverse lived experiences. It’s also anchored in our Guiding Principles of Engagement, which establish ways of working together that prioritize, which establish ways of working together that prioritize:
- Relationship building
- Championing meaningful partnerships
- Creating safer and more inclusive engagement spaces
- Ensuring consistency and purpose
- Encouraging learning and reflection
- Celebrating and sharing successes
HEC prioritizes a trauma-informed approach to engagement. We aim to understand the impact of trauma on individuals and communities, fostering self and community care, empathy and connection. Our goal is to support well-being and create a supportive engagement experience for everyone.
