Patient engagement has been defined as “the extent to which patients take an active role in their health care” (1). In the digital age, patient engagement has taken on a new meaning. With the help of technology, patients are now able to be more involved in their health care than ever before.
A patient engagement framework is a systematic approach to involving patients in their own care and the goal of a patient engagement framework is to help patients become more active participants in their health care, both in the decisions made about their treatment and in the day-to-day self-management of their condition. A patient engagement framework can be designed for use in any health care setting, but it is particularly well suited for use in primary care. In primary care, a patient engagement framework can help to optimize care by ensuring that patients are fully engaged in their own health and well-being. There are many different elements that can be included in a patient engagement framework, but some common features include patient education and outreach, provider training, care coordination and communication, and Patient Portal technology. When used effectively, a patient engagement framework has the potential to transform primary care and improve the quality of care for all patients.