How We Work - Consumer Engagement

   

The role of the Commission is to achieve safer, more effective and more responsive care for consumers. A key focus across all the Commission’s work is on engagement with patients, consumers and their carers. The Commission has consumer input for each of its priority programs, as well as in its overall strategic planning and decision making. The Commission’s membership also includes consumer representation

In 2008, the Commission sought to build on its existing engagement with consumers and look more broadly at the way patients and consumers are engaged in its work. The Commission undertook an extensive national consultation process to aid the development of a strategy which will outline directions for future engagement of consumers in the Commission’s work.

National Safety and Quality Framework

Since this consultation, work has commenced on the development of the National Safety and Quality Framework. The Framework will provide strategic direction for improvement in the health care system and shape the Commission’s current and future work, including its approach to consumer engagement.

In developing the Framework, the Commission recognised that consumer engagement in the broader health system is vital to safety and quality improvements and should underpin this broader strategic plan for the system.

The Commission has therefore developed a high level statement of how consumers will be engaged in the Commission’s work. The valuable information gained through the consultation process will feed into consultation about the National Safety and Quality Framework.

The Commission will undertake an extensive consultation process on the Framework in early 2009. Comment from consumers, patients, families and carers, healthcare organisations, peak professional bodies, community groups and consumer organisations will be specifically encouraged.

The statement on consumer engagement by the Commission will also be made publicly available at this time.

Consultation

The Commission wishes to thank stakeholders who responded to its request for submissions about consumer engagement. A list of organisations and individuals and corresponding submissions is available on the Consumer Engagement – Stakeholder Submissions web page.

The comments and views expressed in submissions have been summarised in the Development of a Consumer Engagement Statement for the Commission: Consultation Report (PDF 243 KB).

A background paper about the development of a consumer engagement strategy for the Commission (PDF 100 KB) was prepared to assist with the consultation process.

Literature Review

The Monash Institute of Health Services Research has prepared a Literature Review Regarding Patient Engagement in Patient Safety Initiatives (PDF 423 KB). The literature review presents articles in the academic and grey literature which directly relate to patient engagement in patient safety activities. The reviewers adopted a narrow definition of patient safety and this is reflected in the literature analysed as part of this review.