“What Matters to You?” - A Simple but Powerful Question that Can Improve Your Health Care Experiences

Today, June 2, is International “What Matters to You?” Day, the global movement that encourages meaningful conversations between health care providers and patients, families and caregivers.

“What Matters to You?” (WMTY) is a simple but powerful question that can improve patient care. Read on to learn more about WMTY and how it can help ensure that care is aligned with patient preferences, build trusting relationships between patients, families and their health care providers and advance person- and family-centred care.

In this Issue: 

• A Global Leader of the "What Matters to You?" Movement Reflects on How One Question Spread Around the World
• Practical Tips
• WMTY Resources

A Global Leader of the "What Matters to You?" Movement Reflects on How One Question Spread Around the World

We are honoured to share this message from Maureen Bisognano, recorded for our International “What Matters to You?” Day event, From Awareness to Impact: Shaping “What Matters to You?” in BC.

Maureen is one of the global leaders who helped spread and sustain the “What Matters to You?” movement. She is President Emerita and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and a long-time leader in health care quality improvement. She has advised health care leaders around the world and helped advance the practice of asking “What Matters to You?” as a way to better understand patients, families and staff.

Watch the Video

You can start your own WMTY conversation with your care provider – it creates an opportunity for you to feel heard and involved in your own care.

Small, honest conversations like these can help shape a care experience that better fits your needs and supports your overall well-being. It reinforces that you aren’t a disease or a list of symptoms, but are a whole person.

Use these practical tips to incorporate WMTY into your health care experiences:

• Don’t hesitate to speak up during appointments by sharing what’s important in your life and asking questions. You can start a simple conversation by saying, “Can I share what matters most to me right now?”
   
• Before your appointment, take a moment to consider what matters to you and write it down. Then bring it with you the next time you see your care provider. You can use this handy patient postcard as a starting point.
   
• If you or a family member is in hospital, use the bedside whiteboards to share what matters with care providers.
   
• Tell your friends and family about “What Matters to You?” so they can improve their health care experiences, too!

WMTY Resources

There are many tools and resources to help you build your skills and embed "What Matters to You?" into every health care interaction. 

Here are a few to help you start meaningful conversations in your care:

• A Guide to Having Conversations About What Matters: tools specific for patients, family members or caregivers to help make these conversations easier.
   
• “What Matters to You?” Head of Bed Poster: a visual bedside communication tool that allows patients to write down their preferred name, daily routines, fears and personal needs so health care providers can quickly understand them as individuals.
   
• Culturally Safe Engagement: What Matters to Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) Patient Partners Companion Guide: a guide created from the voices of Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) patient partners to enhance the cultural safety of engagement efforts.
   
• WMTY with Virtual Care Appointments – A Resource for Patients: a checklist tool developed with patients that enables you to prepare for and make the most of your virtual care appointments.
   
• WMTY Share Your Story: write down your great experience using WMTY and tell us about it.

More WMTY Resources