[Patient involvement during crises].

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement
• Healthcare Management

Context:

• Client councils are a key mechanism for patient involvement in healthcare decision-making.
• The COVID-19 crisis presented unique challenges to established healthcare practices.
• Limited understanding exists regarding patient involvement during health crises and within interorganizational networks.

Purpose:

• To examine the extent and nature of patient involvement during the COVID-19 crisis.
• To identify lessons learned from patient involvement experiences during the crisis.
• To propose future directions for effective patient involvement in healthcare crises and networks.

Summary:

• Patient involvement was minimal during the COVID-19 crisis due to centralized, top-down decision-making structures.
• Decisions made within interorganizational networks during the crisis rarely included patient perspectives.
• The study highlights a significant gap in patient participation during critical healthcare events.

Impact:

• Findings suggest a need for health care organizations and client councils to adapt strategies for patient involvement.
• Recommendations focus on enhancing patient engagement during crises and within complex network structures.
• This research informs future policy and practice for more inclusive healthcare decision-making.