Updates to Engagement in Clinical Services and Clinical Research
Patient Engagement Framework
Although patient-centered care and patient engagement are long-standing UOHI values, before 2018, a formal framework had not yet been outlined. The below was developed in partnership between the Patient Alumni and the Patient Partnership Council and Patient Engagement in Research Advisor Council Co-Chairs.
A patient-friendly version of the UOHI Patient Engagement Framework was developed in February and reviewed by the UOHI Patient Partnership Council and Patient Engagement in Research Advisor Council in March of 2018. The patient-friendly document outlines patient engagement in plain language for patients, families and caregivers who are interested in learning more. The document is awaiting French translation and will be posted to the website in April 2018.
External Website Updates
Clinical Services
In March 2018, Clinical Services launched its own Patient Engagement Section of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute website in order to help patients and their families and caregivers learn more about how they can get involved to influence clinical care delivery at the UOHI. Please see the links below for the new Clinical Services Patient Engagement pages.
The goal in developing these pages was to ensure that information was available in plain language (Grade 8 reading level or below). The Clinical Services pages also link to “Engage in Clinical Research” for those patients who would like to become more involved in research initiatives. Clinical Services will refer to its engagement team of patients, families and caregivers as Care Partners.
Once reviewed by the Chairs of the UOHI Patient Partnership Council and Patient Engagement in Research Advisor Council, the pages were circulated to patient and family representatives in the UOHI Patient Partnership Committee for feedback and recommendations for improvement.
Patient Engagement Framework
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/patient-engagement-framework
French pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/fr/patients-et-visiteurs/cadre-de-participation-des-patients
Influence Clinical Care
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/patient-engagement-framework/influence-clinical-care
French pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/patient-engagement-framework/influence-clinical-care
Patient Partnership Council
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/patient-engagement-framework/patient-partnership-council
Clinical Research
The Clinical Research engagement website was developed by the Co-Chairs of the Patient Engagement in Research Advisor Council and is well-established. Clinical Research uses the term Patient Partners in Research to refer to its engaged patients, families and caregivers. The website provides extensive information related to topics such as clinical research, the clinical research team, informed consent, privacy, etc. Their website also links to their Current Clinical Trials for those patients who would like to become clinical research participants; or to their Be a Patient Partner page for patients who would like to become Patient Partners in shaping the future of cardiovascular research.
Engage in Clinical Research
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/engage-clinical-research-0
French pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/fr/patients-et-visiteurs/participer-%C3%A0-un-essai-clinique
Join a Research Study
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/researchers/clinical-research/join-a-research-study
French pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/fr/chercheurs/recherche-clinique/essais-cliniques
Be a Patient Partner
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/engage-clinical-research/be-patient-partner
French pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/fr/patients-et-visiteurs/participer-%C3%A0-un-essai-clinique/la-participation-des-patients
Email Address / Selection Process
Clinical Services *New Email*
As part of the efforts to update the UOHI website with information about engagement opportunities in Clinical Services, a new email address was created to respond to inquiries from patients, families, caregivers and Heart Institute staff and physicians. The email address reflects the name for patients, families and caregivers who are part of the Clinical Services engagement team: carepartners@ottawaheart.ca
The email address is posted on the UOHI website, and is the method of contact used as part of the recruitment process for prospective Care Partners. The full recruitment process is outlined on the UOHI website:
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/patient-engagement-framework/influence-clinical-care
Clinical Research
Patients, families and caregivers interested in pursuing opportunities to engage in Clinical Research are asked to complete an initial questionnaire so that the research engagement team can understand more about who they are, what they would like to be involved with, and to assess where their skills and time would be best utilized. Patients, families and caregivers who have questions or need help completing the form can email the dedicated Clinical Research engagement inbox at: patientpartners@ottawaheart.ca
The full recruitment process and questionnaire are available on the UOHI website:
English pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/engage-clinical-research/be-patient-partner
French pages: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/fr/patients-et-visiteurs/participer-%C3%A0-un-essai-clinique/la-participation-des-patients
Call Out for Examples
In February 2018, a letter was sent to all Division Chiefs at the UOHI to request their assistance in our goal to increase awareness of patient engagement opportunities. They were requested to complete a brief Word form outlining past and current engagement initiatives within their respective departments. In follow up to this letter, Jean Bilodeau, Co-Chair of the UOHI Patient Partnership Council and Patient Engagement in Research Advisor Council, personally met with each Division Chief to discuss the importance of engagement and thank them for their ongoing commitment.
Once this information has been gathered, the UOHI website will be updated to include these examples for patients, families and caregivers who are interested in learning more about the types of engagement opportunities that have been undertaken in the past, are currently underway or that will be available in the future. It is a great opportunity to showcase the engagement work that is being done at the UOHI!
