Creating a Sustaining Culture for Patient Engagement

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Culture
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Engagement-capable environments are crucial for patient engagement strategies.
• Limited research exists on leadership's role in sustaining patient engagement cultures, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the development and maturation of patient engagement practices and culture within a pediatric rehabilitation hospital.
• To illustrate how a supportive organizational culture influenced responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using interviews and document analysis.
• Data collected from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital before and after the pandemic.

Main Results:

• The hospital demonstrated a maturing engagement culture that adapted during the pandemic.
• A supportive culture was integral to the hospital's crisis response and sustained patient engagement.

Conclusions:

• Leadership plays a key role in cultivating organizational cultures that sustain patient engagement.
• Understanding these dynamics can inform leaders in designing more impactful and sustainable engagement strategies.