Ten Years of Progress in Patient Engagement: A Foundation Built, But Time to Deliver

It has been 10 years since the Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation Report (Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation 2015) recommended patient engagement and empowerment as one action to enhance the quality and sustainability of healthcare in Canada. Since that time, patient engagement has become internationally recognized as a key component toward improving healthcare systems. In this article, the author highlights how organizations across Canada have engaged patients in healthcare and health research planning, design and governance activities, and discusses three key areas wherein improvements are needed to leverage the potential of patient engagement: leadership and infrastructure, diversity and representation and power structures/imbalances.