Meaningful engagement and co-design with caregivers

Meaningful engagement and co-design means caregivers, patients and healthcare providers are active and equal contributors at the table.   

In recent years there has been a growing emphasis on the principles of engagement, collaboration, co-design and partnership to achieve large scale improvement in healthcare. These principles help to improve how caregivers, patients and families experience care, strengthen the relationship between patients and providers, and enhance care and service delivery.  

As Ontario’s healthcare landscape evolves through the formation of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs), the Ministry of Health has set the expectation that OHTs demonstrate meaningful caregiver, patient and family engagement as an essential component for system transformation. 

Engagement can take on many forms and levels of involvement can vary. Learn more about resources that can help support meaningful engagement and co-design in your setting.