Further development of the Global Mapping and Networking Tool

New features will also include a redesign to improve user experience and encourage sign-ups, a questionnaire to analyse patient engagement metrics, a repository for organisations and an improvement of the networking functionality.

Beyond collating and sharing best practices, the networking aspect of the tool is arguably its key feature. Not only are we enabling stakeholders to have an improved overview of the patient engagement landscape, but will also be able to connect amongst each other. The aim is to build a global network of patient engagement experts and an integrated and efficient patient engagement ecosystem.

Patient Engagement Framework Development: next steps

A number of activities will occur in parallel, in support of the meta-framework development. These include a literature review to be conducted twice yearly, with key outputs including a repository of the most relevant articles and a high-level summary. A review of existing frameworks will also be conducted in order to gather key learnings and understand gaps in the existing landscape. 16 frameworks from the last five years have been gathered so far, and we will produce a summary and follow-up recommendations within the context of our own framework in 2017. Case studies of best practice in patient engagement will also be compiled, using material collected via the mapping tool.

Patient engagement guidance and an implementation toolkit will be produced incorporating outputs from the working groups, as well as further detail on stakeholders and their roles and responsibilities, and key success factors, such as overcoming internal barriers, compliance and conflicts of interest.

Specific next steps for the framework itself include the creation of a task force comprising working group participants, who will compile an action plan for 2017-18. Key milestones for 2017, following working group 3, are the definition of the framework’s key criteria and subsequent publication of an initial strawman meta-framework and implementation guide. The aim is to conduct pilots of the meta-framework at the end of 2017.

The Patient Pledge

Each principle will comprise commitments at company level, but will also include personal targets for senior level executives. The commitments will not be static: they will be measured, re-evaluated and adapted as necessary at regular intervals, to ensure both companies and individuals are honouring their pledge to improve patient engagement.