Optimizing patient engagement to enhance a learning health system

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement
• Learning Health Systems

Background:

• Patient and family advisors have been integral to Alberta's province-wide learning health system for over a decade.
• Their contributions focus on evidence generation, knowledge mobilization, and research to improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe how Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Strategic Clinical Networks™ (SCNs™) embedded patient engagement and patient-oriented research into health innovation.
• To outline the co-design of engagement practices and the assessment of engagement effectiveness using a mixed-methods approach.

Main Methods:

• Co-design and piloting of standardized patient and family engagement indicators (PFE-Is) by AHS patient advisors and provincial partners.
• Surveys and consultations with stakeholders to establish a baseline for effective engagement and identify priorities.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: supports for engagement, collaborative learning, diversity of perspectives, the role of advisors, and evaluation of meaningful engagement.
• Recommendations and actions were developed to enhance patient engagement, improve resources, foster inclusivity, and promote collaborative learning.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based PFE-Is and a survey are ready for implementation to monitor and evaluate patient and family engagement in Alberta's health system.
• Continued collaboration with patient and family advisors will strengthen the learning health system and improve patient-centered care.