title: Patient engagement: four case studies that highlight the potential for improved health outcomes and reduced costs.
abstract: The energy of patients and members of the public worldwide who care about improving health is a huge, but still largely unrecognized and untapped, resource. The aim of patient engagement is to shift the clinical paradigm from determining "what is the matter?" to discovering "what matters to you?" This article presents four case studies from around the world that highlight the proven and potential abilities of increased patient engagement to improve health outcomes and reduce costs, while extending the reach of treatment and diagnostic programs into the community. The cases are an online mental health community in the United Kingdom, a genetic screening program in the United Arab Emirates, a World Health Organization checklist for new mothers, and a hospital-based patient engagement initiative in the United States. Evidence from these and similar endeavors suggests that closer collaboration on the part of patients, families, health care providers, health care systems, and policy makers at multiple levels could help diverse nations provide more effective and population-appropriate health care with fewer resources.
authors.affiliation: Jeremy Laurance (j.laurance@imperial.ac.uk) is a communications fellow at the Centre for Health Policy, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, in the United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laurance
authors.affiliation: Sarah Henderson is head of forum development at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Qatar Foundation, and a policy fellow at the Centre for Health Policy, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Peter J. Howitt is a policy fellow at WISH, Qatar Foundation, and an honorary fellow at the Centre for Health Policy, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Howitt
authors.affiliation: Mariam Matar is chairperson of the United Arab Emirates Genetic Diseases Association, in Dubai.
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matar
authors.affiliation: Hanan Al Kuwari is managing director of Hamad Medical Corporation, in Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Kuwari
authors.affiliation: Susan Edgman-Levitan is chair of the Patient and Family Engagement Forum at WISH, Qatar Foundation, and executive director of the John D. Stoeckle Center for Primary Care Innovation, Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edgman-Levitan
authors.affiliation: Ara Darzi is executive chair of WISH, Qatar Foundation, and director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London.
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
mesh_terms: D001900:Boston; D057189:Checklist; D003241:Consanguinity; D003363:Cost Control; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009862:Online Systems; D010358:Patient Participation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012944:Social Support; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Empowering Patients; Global Health; Health Policy; Patient Engagement