Patient Experience Community
The Voice of Patients and Youth
The Patient Experience Community is a network of patients aged 12-18, who work together to make SickKids a better place. The Community’s mandate is to strengthen collaborative partnerships between patients and the hospital. It provides patients with a voice to advance human-centred care practices and the overall quality of hospital care.
Members of the Patient Experience Community share their expert perspective and lived experience as patients with hospital teams to enrich programs and initiatives and ensure they are wholly supportive of the patient and family experience. They also get the chance to meet other SickKids patients!
Some examples of projects and initiatives the Community has worked on include:
- Helping to make SickKids spaces, like clinical areas and waiting rooms, more patient and family-friendly
- Co-designing teen programming in Marnie’s Lounge
- A “Youth Voice” version of the hospital’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan and Patient and Family Experience Strategy
- Co-creation and update of the Meal Train menu
- Consultation on the hospital’s Coming for Surgery Workbook
Join the Patient Experience Community!
Consider applying to the Patient Experience Community and provide patient feedback that will enrich our programs and initiatives.
To be a member of the Patient Experience Community, individuals must be:
- A current patient at SickKids
- Between 12-17 years old
- Passionate about sharing ideas for positive change
- Comfortable sharing thoughts and ideas in a group
- Interested in meeting new people and working together on group projects
Patient Advisory Council
Are you passionate about amplifying the patient voice? Do you have leadership skills you would like to apply to patient advocacy? Consider applying to the Patient Advisory Council!
The Patient Advisory Council is a group of patient advisors who help lead the activities of the Patient Experience Community. They help decide which presenters come to meetings, brainstorm projects for the community to work on, and advocate for the work of the Patient Experience Community. The Council meets twice a month, for a combined 4 hours each month between September-May.
To be a member of the Patient Advisory Council, individuals must be:
- A current patient at SickKids
- Between 12-17 years old
- Available to come to two monthly meetings (hosted on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month)
- Passionate about patient advocacy
- Willing to act as leaders and role models in Community advisory work
Complete the youth advisor application form to become a patient advisor
For more information, read our FAQs or email patient.advisory@sickkids.ca.
Patient Values at SickKids
The Patient Advisory Council published this resource to share the patient perspective on what matters most in their care. At every age and stage, high-quality, inclusive and compassionate care honours patients’ basic needs, addresses developmental support and stimulation, offers opportunities for connection, is emotionally supportive, and empowers patients to actively participate in their care.
FAQs
Patient advisors who join the Patient Experience Community can decide how much they would like to participate. After they are onboarded, advisors will be sent opportunities to:
- Join Patient Advisory Council meetings where presenters attend to get patient feedback, and
- Sign up for engagement opportunities and events outside of Council meetings, such as focus groups and workshops.
These meetings will be virtual for Community members, so advisors don’t have to commute to SickKids.
The Patient Experience Community is made up of all the patient advisors at SickKids. The Patient Advisory Council is a group of patient advisors within the Community, who help make advisory decisions for the Community, and act as leaders for the patient voice at SickKids.
The biggest difference between the two groups is their time commitment. Where members of the Patient Experience Community can pick and choose what they would like to participate in, members of the Patient Advisory Council are required to attend meetings twice per month, from September to May, to keep their membership.
If you are looking to engage in projects or initiatives that are relevant to your experiences, the Patient Experience Community is a good fit for you. If you have leadership experience, are interested in making change within SickKids as a patient voice, and can commit to monthly meetings, the Patient Advisory Council may be a better fit.
You do not have to be nominated, you can apply yourself. The nomination option is there for any staff who want to nominate a patient they work with.
Advisors are recruited to the Patient Experience Community four times a year.
| Recruitment period | Orientation Date |
| December–February | March |
| March–May | June |
| June–August | September |
| September–November | January |
All applications received during the recruitment period will be considered and processed in time for the corresponding orientation date.
Patient Advisory Council members are recruited once per year in the summer, from May to July. Any applications received before that time will be held and considered once the recruitment cycle begins.
After submitting your application, you will be emailed for interviews with program staff. The interview is an opportunity to ask questions, and make sure patients feel ready to participate as an advisor.
All patient advisors will be onboarded according to the process for advisors 18 and under.
If you are applying to the Patient Advisory Council, you will be onboarded as a stream 2 advisor, meaning you must complete a proof of immunization form and 2-step TB test.
There is no limit to the number of patient advisors in the Patient Experience Community!
There is a limit of 15-20 advisors at a time, on the Patient Advisory Council. However, advisors who are not offered a placement on the Council will automatically be offered a spot in the Community.
Advisors will have an opportunity to talk to program staff about options for transitioning to the Lived Experience Network, or further engagement in the Patient Experience Community. Stay tuned for more opportunities as our program grows!