Abstract
Background: In response to the many challenges facing health care systems across Canada - and the numerous funding and delivery options being considered to improve access to care - the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) conducted a national listening tour to hear from more than 10,000 physicians and people living in Canada about what they want from the health system, where it’s falling short and solutions to bridge the gaps.
Approach: Using a mixed-method approach, between September 2023 and February 2024, the CMA engaged with more than 10,000 physicians and people living in Canada. Engagement methods included both targeted and general population surveys, open town hall forums (virtual and in-person), focused dialogue sessions (virtual and in-person) and online community platform discussion threads. Participants - which included health care providers, persons with lived experience and the public - shared their thoughts on the current mix of public–private health care funding and delivery in the country, as well as their values, hopes and suggestions for the health system they want moving forward. CMA’s Patient Voice Advisory Group assisted in the co-development of the People with Lived Experience (PWLE) and Public engagement design. Secondary outreach was sent to participants for confirmation/validation of “what we heard” report findings and the proposed draft policy revisions.
Results: Both qualitative and quantitative feedback from engagement session participants was highly favorable of the approach to engagement (average 8.3/10 satisfaction rating) and felt that engaging was a good use of their time (average rating of 4.5/5). All participants and the broader public are able to access the regional specific and comprehensive “what we heard” reports. While the initial intension was to update an existing policy statement, the feedback received led to a complete revision of the policy’s structure, content and recommendations which has been reviewed with various key decisionmakers in healthcare.
Implications: In sharing this case study in cross Canadian healthcare engagement, we hope to inspire others to broaden their engagement outreach in order to co-create efforts toward healthcare transformation into the future. The success of this engagement approach fundamentally changed the way we engage on policy at the CMA. Proposed areas for further engagement will be discussed.