As patients we are delighted to see that the importance and the added value of involving patients in health care decisions and policies is increasingly being recognised. In this very interesting article published on September 16, 2022, the authors note that the application of patient experience data to inform healthcare decisions is still an emerging field and there there is great scope in aligning the different stakeholders on the value of these data to strengthen healthcare systems. “Given the collective value of understanding patient experiences across multiple stakeholder groups, we propose a more aligned approach to the collection of patient experience data where patients’ experiences are the starting point, and not just something to be considered at the end of the process”. The authors also rightly add that this must also be based on meaningful patient engagement, where patients are “collaborators and decision makers” at each step, thereby ensuring their needs and priorities are accurately reflected. The resulting data and evidence should be made available for all stakeholders, to inform their decision making and healthcare strategies in ways that meet patient priorities. “We call for multi-stakeholder collaboration that will deliver healthcare systems and interventions that are better centred around and tailored to patient experiences, and that will help address patients’ unmet needs”. Well worth the read. Commentary by Pisana Ferrari
Citation
Schroeder, K., Bertelsen, N., Scott, J. et al. Building from Patient Experiences to Deliver Patient-Focused Healthcare Systems in Collaboration with Patients: A Call to Action. Ther Innov Regul Sci 56, 848–858 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43441-022-00432-x
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