Patient and Family Engagement Network

Patient and Family Advisors help us better understand the unique needs of the people using our health care system.  Advisors can be individuals who receive care or those who support them. This includes people with lived experience as patients, caregivers, loved ones, and members of the public. They share ideas on how to connect and coordinate the health care system, provide feedback to improve the patient and family experience, and offer input on health care planning and delivery.  

Responsibilities 

An advisor or person with lived experience shares expertise from their experience with Ontario’s health care system and provides feedback on the quality of care received.

Ontario Health offers a wide range of engagement opportunities. You can express interest in opportunities based on your interest and availability. Some of the ways you can help include:

• providing input on policies and programs as a working group or committee member
• sharing your personal story at events
• participating on a Patient and Family Advisory Council to inform various strategic initiatives
• completing questionnaires or surveys
• participating in focus groups
• user testing digital health tools

Who Can Apply

To become a Patient and Family Advisor, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older
• live in Ontario
• have a willingness to volunteer your time in this role (you can commit as much time as you are able to give)
• have experience with our health care system as a patient, family member, care partner, or loved one
• enjoy working with a diverse group of people
• be respectful of others and their opinions
• be comfortable speaking in a group
• be solution-oriented
• be passionate about improving the Ontario health care systems

Please note our network is currently at capacity. We will reopen opportunities to join our network as space becomes available.