Co-Design Development: Building the Future Together

As part of the Patient Experience strategic priority in Strategic Plan 2026, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has begun the design and implementation of a co-design framework. This framework aims to foster a shared understanding of co-design among staff, patients, and families, ensuring it becomes a cornerstone of how we deliver care.

Over the past two years, tremendous effort has gone into defining what co-design means specifically for TBRHSC. A diverse committee of over 30 individuals—including frontline staff, physicians, administrative staff, and Patient Family Advisors (PFAs)—collaborated to craft a definition that reflects the values of our Hospital:

“Co-design is a collaborative partnership involving diverse groups of patients, families, allies, and hospital staff to improve quality, experience, and patient and family centred care. With trust, compassion, empathy, equity, and inclusivity at the heart of what we do, TBRHSC strives to create a welcoming environment where patients and families are full and equal partners in their care. This helps improve health services and involves listening and learning together.”

At its core, co-design embodies the value of collaboration of patient and family centred care, taking it to the next level by building meaningful partnerships.

Co-Design Framework: Laying the Foundation

Once the definition was finalized, the team developed a comprehensive framework to integrate co-design into the fabric of TBRHSC. This framework draws on Appreciative Inquiry and emphasizes person-centred communication principles, ensuring equity, relationship-building, and the inclusion of all voices. It establishes co-design as both a guiding philosophy and an actionable strategy for change.

Two Levels of Co-Design Implementation

The implementation of co-design spans two levels, macro- and micro-level co-design.

Macro-Level Co-Design: At the organizational level, co-design serves as a framework for large-scale projects and a change management tool. This structured approach ensures that initiatives across departments and programs are informed by the perspectives and insights of patients and families, creating a shared vision for improvement. The development of the macro-level framework has been completed, providing the foundation for this work.

Micro-Level Co-Design: At the bedside, co-design is about empowering patients to actively co-create their care. This involves applying person-centred communication principles to establish trust, foster mutual understanding, and ensure that care decisions reflect the unique needs and preferences of each patient. The micro-level work is now underway, focusing on embedding co-design into everyday interactions between staff, patients, and families.

By integrating co-design at both the macro and micro levels, TBRHSC is creating a culture where patients and families are truly equal partners in care. Together, we are making strides toward achieving the vision outlined in Strategic Plan 2026 and transforming the patient experience through collaboration, innovation, and trust.