Patient Partnerships

What is the Patient Partner Program?

The Patient Partner Program is a community of patients and family caregivers who are interested in contributing their experiences and expertise to improving and transforming healthcare.

We recruit patients and family caregivers into the role of a Patient Partner to work directly with staff on specific UHN initiatives, committees, and activities that enhance and improve UHN’s quality and safety of care. Patients and family caregivers, as experts in their own experience, can provide knowledge and perspectives that staff may not be able to provide.

Through our program you can:

• Share your thoughts and ideas
• Contribute to patient and staff safety
• Contribute to organizational change and transformation
• Work with staff to help improve care and service
• Learn about the experience of others
• Take part in skill-building activities

How Do Patient Partners Participate?

As a Patient Partner, you:

• Bring your own perspectives and lived experiences, and work in partner with the UHN team
• Focus on the goals and objectives of the specific project in which you are participating
• Partner with staff in different ways and participate actively in meetings, by sharing your story, feedback, experiences and opinions

Patient Partners can be involved through a variety of ways:

• Committees or working groups
• Hiring panels
• User-testing
• Focus groups
• Sharing experiences through presentations or panels
• One-on-one interviews
• Event participation
  

Who Can Become A Patient Partner?

Patient Partners are patients and caregivers who are:

• Living well in the community with their health condition
• Coping well with their hospital experience
• Able to listen well and enjoy working with others
• Able to attend supportive education and skill-building sessions that prepare them for this partnership
• Willing to talk about and share their experience with others, to help shape care and service
• Supports and commits to UHN's Purpose, Values, and Principles

How do I Become a Patient Partner?