Patient advocates - A strategic partner in the healthcare of the future

Purpose and goal:

The Swedish society is undergoing its greatest healthcare reform. For patients, this means that they are seen as co-creators instead of recipients. To meet the needs of the future, we need more patient advocates who have good knowledge of the Swedish health care system and the Life Science ecosystem.

Increased knowledge and understanding of the health care system leads to increased patient engagement, more constructive proposals and smarter solutions in the health area. Therefore, The Swedish Disability Rights Federation aims to develop patient advocacy trainings. Expected results and effects:

All stakeholders involved in the pilot project agree that collaboration with well-trained patient advocates will lead to more efficient healthcare. The future education will include, to begin with, four modules that can be briefly described: A. The role of the patient advocate; B.

Political influence; C. Preparation, implementation and feedback; and D. Storytelling.

The training platform is expected to provide patient advocates with the right basic knowledge, tools and support, so that they can get more easily involved in various decision-making processes. Approach and implementation:

During the pilot project, we conducted dialogues internally and externally with relevant stakeholders in order to obtain views and reach consensus on a future patient advocacy training. The work consisted of analysis of needs, workshops and in-depth interviews to obtain input. Based on this and solid research work, we have also been able to sketch, develop and anchor this future educational investment.

We developed also a strategy and action plan for the next step, for the actual development of the training.