Are we Team Canada in healthcare?
There are myriad examples in the current public discourse about Team Canada and the benefits of working together. Believing that we are better together, people are embracing this concept and actively searching for ways to demonstrate their commitment to a common goal. I expect the delegates of the e-Health conference espouse teamwork as the approach of choice in their work as well—whether as frontline health professionals, policy makers, innovators in digital technology and interoperability, or researchers—aiming for the best possible health experiences and outcomes for patients. But who are the requisite players in successful healthcare teams and systems?
Patients (caregivers/families) in the healthcare system have known the inherent truth of team unity for a long time. But while healthcare professionals recognize that teamwork is the gold standard of care, the inclusion of the patient (caregiver/family) as integral members of that team is not always evident. If you agree, you may have questions about patients joining you as team members: how do I find the right patients? What can they offer in my specific area of work? What are the logistics of including patients?
I am one of an enthusiastic group of patient partners who will attend e-Health in June. We are individuals who have been the recipients of healthcare services, both positive and negative, and we use our experiences to improve the healthcare system. We are motivated to collaborate with you, and research has shown that our engagement makes a positive difference. When we join you at the table, we may share our personal stories to provide real-life applications for your ideas and initiatives. We might confirm or challenge the relevancy of a new project, offer novel approaches to pilot your ideas, or raise issues that affect us and affirm that your work is a priority for us. You can find us at all levels of the system—collaborating with frontline service providers and leaders, researchers, and innovators, support system experts, government, and policy makers. We also share our experiences of exemplary care to acknowledge efforts that make a difference to us as patients—and to affirm, thank, and support those working within the system.
Our stories often elicit compassion and engender a desire for change. But, we are more than just our stories; we are ready and willing partners who are eager and able to contribute to those improvements and innovations. We offer our knowledge, insights, and wisdom with a keen awareness that we are in the privileged position of being a voice for countless others who do not have a seat at the table.
Our patient partner communities are continuing to evolve and flourish nationally, with the Patient Advisors Network being an excellent example (Home | Patient Advisors Network). We encourage this growth based on principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion so that over time, we are better able to represent our populations’ unique blend of healthcare needs, experiences, and expectations.
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the e-Health conference, I encourage delegates to approach us with your questions, ideas, and invitations to engage with you. You will see us at presentations, vendor displays, social events and media sites and you will find us at Ask a Patient Partner booth next to the conference hosts, Digital Health Canada, Canada Health Infoway, and CIHI.
Let’s seize the opportunity to truly embody teamwork by recognizing the advantages of patient partnership in all aspects of healthcare. We all have a role to play in our national healthcare team: together we are better.
Anne O’Riordan, Patient Partner
Learn more about the e-Health25 Patient Partners here.
