Growing a provincial patient and family engagement network to optimize kidney care

Abstract

Patient and family engagement is crucial for a responsive health system and improves patient outcomes. However, few practical resources for purposeful engagement are available to health leaders. Over the past five years, BC Renal, the provincial kidney care network in British Columbia, developed, operationalized, and implemented a framework to enable meaningful patient and family engagement. An advisory committee, comprising patient partners and representatives from health authorities and the community, directs the outreach, resource development, and evaluation of patient and family engagement at BC Renal. Here, we describe how our network-wide patient engagement strategy was developed and expanded upon, and the progress so far. A 2022 survey reports that 95% were satisfied with the engagement opportunities, and narrative feedback suggests network members continue to adopt practical ways to collaborate more effectively. Health leaders, patient partners, and others continue to align operational and strategic activities to advance culture change in kidney care provincially.

Figure 1.

Overview of BC Renal patient & family engagement framework.

Figure 2.

Evaluation of patient and family engagement in BC Renal. (A) Annual growth of the network of patients and family members and active patient partners who collaborated in BC Renal committees or working groups. (B) Highlights from patient partner experience survey. (C) Narrative feedback on patient and family engagement in BC Renal.