Recognizing Partnership: Exploring Policies and Practices for Equitable Patient and Caregiver Reimbursement and Recognition in Integrated Healthcare Systems

Background: There is growing recognition of the critical role that patient and unpaid caregiver partners (PFCs) play in shaping healthcare systems. To move beyond symbolic engagement, recognition frameworks must reflect the value of lived experience of marginalized populations by embedding practices that are equitable and practically supportive. Truly inclusive frameworks must go further than honorariums and provide dedicated funding to reduce structural barriers to participation and enable PFC-led initiatives.

Yet, across jurisdictions, these recognition practices remain inconsistent, often challenged by operational and budgetary constraints. Many of the existing frameworks found in the literature are health research-focused. While they provide a solid foundation, they fail to take into consideration the complexity of engaging PFCs in integrated care settings nor empower the community to co-lead.

Audience:This interactive workshop will convene an international audience of healthcare providers, system leaders, and PFCs to examine recognition policies and explore the ways in which they are effective—or fall short—in supporting meaningful engagement of marginalized populations.

Approach: The session will begin with a brief presentation of PFCs recognition, including various approaches and literature on best practices. This will be followed by a series of small-group discussions to draw out participants' experiences, identify barriers, and generate insights into the future direction of recognition practices across diverse contexts.

Format: •Opening Presentation (10 minutes): Overview of recognition frameworks, common components (e.g., honorariums, training, support), and challenges in implementation.

• Small-Group Breakout Discussions (20 minutes): Participants will be grouped to ensure a mix of perspectives (providers and partners). Each group will explore key guiding questions.
• Plenary Discussion and Knowledge Synthesis (20 minutes): Summary of group discussions, insights, and co-creation of recommendations.
• Interactive Polling (10 minutes): Prioritize ideas and collect feedback for post-session synthesis.

Questions for Discussion:

1.How are honorariums determined in your recognition policy (e.g. levels of recognition, type and depth of engagement, equity status)?

2.How is equity considered in your recognition policies? (e.g. forms of recognition (monetary and non-monetary), eligibility, frequency, method of payment)?

3.Is there a separate budget allocated to support the removal of participation barriers (e.g., childcare, transportation, digital access)?

4.Are PFC-led initiatives supported through dedicated funding? If so, how are such ideas surfaced and resourced?

5.What other recognition practices (e.g., public acknowledgment, professional development, co-authorship) are employed?

6.What barriers have you experienced in implementing recognition policies in practice?

Goals:

• To map the diversity of recognition policies and practices across health systems and contexts.
• To identify enablers and barriers to the operationalization of these frameworks from both institutional and PFCs perspectives.
• To generate recommendations for policy and system leaders seeking to strengthen inclusion of PFCs from marginalized communities.
• To foster shared learning on equity-informed engagement focused on the EMPOWER end of the engagement spectrum.

Outcome: The insights gathered from this workshop will inform the development of a report and toolkit to support the advancement of meaningful, equitable recognition practices in integrated care initiatives that strengthen community’s capacity to participate and co-lead in system transformation.