Engagement is a process of collaboration and decision making. It goes beyond surveys and consultations. Engagement values the rights of everyone to have a voice in decisions that affect them and enables transparency and accountability.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s (TBRHSC) model of engagement is based on Dr. Charles Boelen’s “5 Partners in Health” model. This model invites policy makers, health professionals, health managers, communities and academic institutions to come together to have critical conversations and make decisions. Consensus building among partners during these conversations allows for differing viewpoints and experiences to influence group choices. Decisions made with full engagement allow for a smooth transition to implementation.

The Strategic Planning process allowed TBRHSC to develop its engagement strategy for this initiative and beyond. Bringing the 5 Partners together for strategic planning required both internal and external approaches.

Internally, three groups were formed, not only to provide input into this process, but also to provide advice on an ongoing basis through dialogue with the Senior Management Team. The first internal engagement group involves physicians and the Board of Directors. The second internal engagement group includes directors, managers, supervisors and coordinators. Finally, the third group, new to TBRHSC, represents “Internal Leaders”, and is comprised of 60 staff, volunteers, and Patient and Family Advisors.

Policy makers, academics, and health managers from other organizations were specifically identified and invited to join in the planning and engagement process.

It was also vital to include individuals from the community with no formal affiliation to a partner organization. These individuals, in addition to the Patient and Family Advisors of TBRHSC, provided a consumer’s perspective.

These groups met independently, as well as together, and gave us great feedback regarding healthcare. They talked about what was important to them and brought the best solutions forward. Together, we determined how we could deliver the best care for our patients.

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