Patient Experience: A return to purpose

Jason A. Wolf PhD, The Beryl Institute / Patient Experience JournalFollow

Abstract

As an opening reflection to Volume 4 of Patient Experience Journal (PXJ), this editorial reviews the progress of the journal and the implications seen both in the evolving healthcare marketplace globally as well as reviews the data on the developing field of patient experience. It reinforces the need for an integrated view of experience as supported by data in the most recent State of Patient Experience research – one encompassing quality, safety, service, cost and population health implications and one driven on an engine of both patient and family engagement and employee/staff engagement. The article offers that healthcare is as dynamic as it has ever been and is now being pushed at speeds it has not been built to handle, suggesting the need for agility and vision, redesign and expanded thinking. The recognition of these intertwined realities reveals what the author suggests is a return to purpose in healthcare. This is framed by the reinforcement that engagement, communication, quality and safe outcomes are unquestionably central issues for healthcare and they are all now coming together as central to the overall experience dialogue. From these insights, the article offers an invitation for contributions to PXJ that will both underline and expand the exploration found on its pages, from types of submissions to topics including national and global perspectives, technology and culture. The author calls on readers to share their voice, stories, thoughts, research and experiences grounded in the essence of generosity that inspires each of us to sustain a commitment to positive experience efforts each day. The article leaves us in suggesting the powerful simplicity of a return to purpose may be one of the strongest foundations we could hope for in building the future of healthcare.