Aligning Forces for Quality, a healthcare quality improvement initiative under the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has learned several lessons on engaging consumers in healthcare improvement efforts, according to a report in Health Affairs.
Aligning Forces for Quality, which launched in 2006, includes 16 alliances of providers, payers and consumers aiming to improve overall healthcare quality, reduce disparities in care and develop models for reform. One of the alliances' strategies for reaching these goals is involving consumers in decision-making. Here are five early lessons the alliances have learned about engaging consumers in healthcare quality improvement:
Integrating consumers into alliances
1. Requiring alliances to include consumers ensures alliances seek consumer input on decisions.
2. Senior leadership's support of consumer involvement in the alliances helps create a culture that values consumer engagement.
3. Gaining support for consumer representation at the highest levels of governance is often "an evolutionary process," according to the report.
Consumer-friendly healthcare and comparative quality information
4. Consumers must be involved from the beginning of public reporting efforts. They should provide input on the measures reported and the format.
Involving consumers in healthcare system redesign
5. Match consumers with roles they are interested in.
10 Reasons to Include Community Input in Medical Staff Planning
Designing the Collaborative Care Environment
Aligning Forces for Quality, which launched in 2006, includes 16 alliances of providers, payers and consumers aiming to improve overall healthcare quality, reduce disparities in care and develop models for reform. One of the alliances' strategies for reaching these goals is involving consumers in decision-making. Here are five early lessons the alliances have learned about engaging consumers in healthcare quality improvement:
Integrating consumers into alliances
1. Requiring alliances to include consumers ensures alliances seek consumer input on decisions.
2. Senior leadership's support of consumer involvement in the alliances helps create a culture that values consumer engagement.
3. Gaining support for consumer representation at the highest levels of governance is often "an evolutionary process," according to the report.
Consumer-friendly healthcare and comparative quality information
4. Consumers must be involved from the beginning of public reporting efforts. They should provide input on the measures reported and the format.
Involving consumers in healthcare system redesign
5. Match consumers with roles they are interested in.
More Articles on Patient Engagement:
Addressing the Empty Seat at the Healthcare IT Table: Next Steps in Patient Engagement10 Reasons to Include Community Input in Medical Staff Planning
Designing the Collaborative Care Environment