Patient Experiences and Insights

Patient Needs and Gap Analysis

We support and lead projects focused on identifying the complex constellation of patient needs and gaps in services or resources to address these needs. As the healthcare, policy, and social environments are everchanging– it is important to understand how these changes are impacting the patient community to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are addressed.

Patient Experience Surveys

We have a history of engaging with partners to develop, distribute, and analyze the results of bi-annual patient experience surveys.  Our survey work is used in prep-to-research, research prioritization, health services research, patient experience, and policy projects. These surveys are distributed directly to the patient community, as we leverage our vast network of underserved patients to ensure robust and diverse responses. We serve the most vulnerable patients, those that are facing access or affordability challenges that often stem from social need exacerbated by the social determinants of health.

Patient Perspective Convenings

We regularly convene groups of patients to workshop projects, field test deliverables, and provide invaluable perspectives via focus group data. We have recruited and facilitated patient and caregiver groups around a variety of conditions and topics. These are ad hoc events, or ongoing convenings (ex: project specific advisory group, focus group series, etc.).

Featured Projects

Fighting Breast Cancer on Chicago’s Southside

On Tuesday March 28, 2019, Sisters Working It Out and Patient Advocate Foundation convened a community conversation at the Kroc Center in Roseland. A group of 40 community stakeholders representing nurses, educators, health care professionals, breast cancer survivors and faith‐based members galvanized to create change for black women on the southland area. The following organizations were represented Sisters Network Chicago Chapter, Different Shades of Pink/Brave Chick Charities, Mile Square Health Center, Lilydale First Baptist Church and Matters At Heart.  The group discussed data highlighting the scope of breast cancer disparities in their communities, identified service gaps contributing to the problem and prioritized solutions to address breast cancer disparities on the southside. This document summaries the findings from the community conversation.