How to make patient/client participation a success?

There is a growing recognition that actively listening to the experiences of patients/clients and their relatives can substantially improve the quality and safety of care, without major change processes is necessary. We call this patient/client participation. The previous blogs described how to select the right tool and participants. This blog explains how to make a success of patient participation.

Make sure that the organization learns from patient participation

Patient participation is not an end in itself, but a means to implement quality improvements in healthcare. Key to successful patient and client participation, irrespective of the steps and tools applied, is that the results that are obtained are followed up.

The main pitfall after completion of participation is that patients’/clients’ preferences and needs are clear, but that nothing is done with the information obtained. Make sure that the topic of patient/client participation is placed on the agenda and remains on the agenda.

Actively improving the quality of care is the most important next step. The following points are important when considering subsequent steps:

• Who provides feedback?
• Who should receive feedback on the information received? This may, for example, include staff members, Board of Directors, patients.
• How will feedback be provided? For example in the form of a presentation, poster, website, article in hospital newsletter or regional newspaper?

• Who translates the information into concrete improvement actions?
• Who determines the priorities within the improvement actions?
• Who is responsible for the improvement actions?

• Specific: be as concrete as possible
• Measurable: ensure the actions are measurable
• Appealing / ambitious
• Result-oriented
• Time-bound: set a deadline

Support in following up on participation initiatives

Make sure a Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle or other method is in place to promote cyclical and gradual improvement. Gathering data at repeated intervals provides a reliable picture and insight into changes.

TPSC software solutions support the use of patient/client participation. By using a variety of tools, patients and clients can easily provide feedback on the care provided, so that it can be discussed in the workplace. Weaknesses within existing processes are highlighted, analyzed, and optimized.

A good follow-up is the key to success. Improve 2.0 supports the improvement process with a result-oriented approach. The solution provides structure and transparency to the many improvement actions the organization compiles with the various (patient participation) initiatives. The PDCA cycle is secured. Improvement actions are prioritized, responsibilities are assigned and lead times are monitored.

In addition, care institutions can easily communicate with patients and clients about the improvement measures achieved.

eBook Patient participation

Do you want to know more about patient participation and the tools you can use? Download the eBook 'How do you turn regular care into excellent care?'. Learn from practical examples how you can use patient participation to improve the quality and safety of healthcare.