Ipsos Reid interviewed a sample of 1,000 Canadians aged 18-64 for the purpose of understanding perceptions and experiences with the healthcare system. Four categories were analyzed: Ease of Access and Patient Experience, Care and Compassion, Coordination and Communication, and Efficiency of Time and Money.
Here are of what we believe to be significant points:
April 27, 2012 - In the recent past, it was difficult to get a response to our message about the importance of patient participation. Although many people agreed that patients should become more engaged in health care, there were few actual examples of that in practice and not much opportunity to participate in a meaningful way. There was also very little demand for more information.
All of that has been changing. And in fact, our message has become very desirable.
We are not sure how the change happened. We hope that it is because more people recognize that patients must participate in the system to help improve their own experience and that of everyone associated with health care. It is also now widely agreed that health care systems must improve their capacity to treat chronic conditions. And this of course means that the patient must be more actively engaged - not only in their care, but in how that care is delivered.
March 7, 2012 - PAC’s visit to Kingston last week was a great success. We chose to visit Kingston General Hospital (KGH) because the hospital has dedicated itself to improving the patient experience through patient and family centred care. Members of our governance collaborative had a chance to meet each other and share ideas about how patients can become more active and effective as part of the decision making body in health care organizations.
Monday, March 5, 2012 | This article originally appeared here.
Engaging patients is the big new idea in health. Though it seems obvious that patients should be involved and actively taking part in their own care, medicare has been in trouble so long that this change is seen as a revolution.