"What Matters to You?"
Special Edition Newsletter | Hello!
As we celebrate International “What Matters to You?” Day today, we're thrilled to share a special edition newsletter dedicated to this important occasion! This day holds significant importance for honouring patient-centred care, where the focus is on understanding and addressing what matters most to patients and health care providers. The "What Matters to You?" (WMTY) initiative, launched by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in 2012, found its global footing in Norway in 2014. Since then, WMTY Day has become an annual celebration worldwide, with Health Quality BC enthusiastically championing this cause. Each year, typically around June 6, we engage our partners in WMTY conversations, sparking meaningful dialogues that foster empathy, collaboration, and patient-centred care. In this edition, we'll be sharing inspiring stories from both patients and health care providers, highlighting the impact of WMTY in their experiences. Additionally, we're excited to share our new patient postcards, designed to help patients prepare for their appointments by reflecting on the WMTY question. These postcards will serve as a valuable tool in enhancing patient-provider communication and ensuring that every interaction is centred around what truly matters. WMTY also extends beyond patient care. It's a tool health care partners can use to engage communities. By asking “What Matters to You?” we tap into community assets, knowledge, and skills. This helps nurture a culture of collaboration, empowerment, and inclusivity, leading to better health outcomes for all. Join us as we explore a heartwarming story and initiative that reflects the spirit of WMTY. | What Matters to Patients, Families & Caregivers:
Meet Sharan & Charan | Sharan shared her story in response to our invitation for personal stories. Her experience shows how a loved one's illness can deeply affect family life and how important compassionate caregiving is. By telling her story, Sharan hopes to emphasize the need to understand and address the personal and emotional needs of patients and their families. | | She illustrates how the simple question "What Matters to You?" has greatly influenced her husband's care, making sure it aligns with their most important values and concerns. Here is Sharan's story: “My husband was diagnosed with dementia in 2018. Two years before that, our family noticed changes in his behaviour, but we couldn’t identify the cause. Thankfully, we had doctors in our circle who advised us to have him evaluated. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was confirmed. It began with dementia, but soon symptoms of Parkinson’s and depression emerged. Quietly, I started making adjustments to our home to help him move around comfortably. "When COVID hit, it was just the two of us at home, facing many challenges. By the end of 2021, his Parkinson’s became more difficult for me to manage. He was hospitalized and, in February 2022, he was moved to a care home - a heartbreaking decision for both of us. I felt helpless but kept reminding myself that we had to adapt to his condition. Our three children were incredibly supportive throughout this journey. "In these circumstances, what matters most to me and our family is ensuring his physical and emotional comfort. The care home provides for his physical needs, and I visit him almost every day. Our children and grandchildren also visit frequently. Due to his cognitive decline, he can’t express his needs, so I advocate for his comfort. The caregivers at the home allow me to spend quality time with him and assist him as needed. "I am determined to face dementia with love and respect. What matters most to me is that when I visit my husband, he is well-groomed and comfortable. His beautiful smile and affectionate nature remain, and after 52 years of marriage, all I want is for him to be at ease. "The question ‘What Matters to You?’ has allowed us to voice our deepest concerns and priorities. This simple question makes us feel heard and understood, ensuring that my husband’s care aligns with what truly matters to him and us. It has fostered a sense of partnership with the caregivers, who now know that my primary concern is his comfort and dignity. This focus has made all the difference, transforming his care from a routine task into compassionate care.” | The Power of "What Matters to You?":
A Story from our Community of Practice | We asked members in our WMTY Community of Practice to share how the WMTY question is transforming the way they engage with patients. One of our members, Dara Lewis, shared her work with the Regional Palliative Approach to Care Education (RPACE) team, part of Vancouver Coastal Health. Why did you start asking "What Matters to You?"
"The concept of ‘What Matters to You?’ is deeply integrated into the education our Regional Palliative Approach to Care Education (RPACE) team provides. This principle is at the heart of several health care conversation guides. Ultimately, asking ‘What Matters to You?’ provides care teams with a compass, guiding us towards care that aligns with what's important to the patient. Care is only meaningful if it meets the needs of the recipient, and to ensure it's meaningful, we need to ask what matters." How did you start integrating "What Matters to You?" in your interactions with patients?
"Our RPACE team has been part of Vancouver Coastal Health for the past six years. We focus on educating health care providers on conversation strategies that support person-centred care and foster a truly partnered approach to care. We recognize that health care providers are the experts in the medical side of care, but patients and families are the experts in their life stories, values, beliefs, and wishes. To make care decisions that best fit the patient, we need a blend of medical knowledge and an understanding of what matters most to the patient. Regardless of the patient's medical status or stage of illness, health care providers can ask patients about their goals, expectations and valuable outcomes." How has this changed your relationships with your patients? What changed when you asked what matters to them?
"Patients feel seen and heard as unique individuals when they are asked what matters to them. They no longer feel like just a bed number, a system occupant, or a disease to be treated, but rather a person first and foremost. Asking ‘What Matters to You?’ conveys care and compassion from the health care team, and although it doesn’t take much time, the ripple effect can be profound." What did you learn from your experience, and what would you like others to know about the importance of asking this question?
"The ‘What Matters to You?’ question serves multiple purposes. It can uncover diverse details about the patient, providing health care teams with insights into what motivates a patient. This can be exceptionally useful and meaningful in engaging patients in behaviour changes or following care instructions, such as understanding why mobilizing two to three times per day could help maintain muscle strength and reduce fall risk. Sometimes, patient responses ensure the right referrals are made, such as to Spiritual Care, to support the patient and family emotionally and spiritually during difficult times. By asking ‘What Matters to You?’ we can avoid assumptions, forge meaningful partnerships, and ensure that our care plans reflect what is truly important to patients and their families." | Sharing Our New WMTY Patient Postcards | We are excited to tell you about our WMTY postcards, available soon in clinics and waiting rooms to help you prepare for your appointments with your care provider.
Download the Postcard
| | 📝 Purpose and Design The postcards feature empowering questions that help you to reflect on and share what matters most to you. By encouraging "What Matters to You?" conversations, these postcards help ensure that your priorities are clearly communicated and understood by your health care provider. 💬 Enhanced Communication The postcards are more than just a reflection tool; they can serve as a communication bridge. With dedicated space on the back, you can jot down your thoughts, concerns, or questions. This preparation helps you make the most of your appointment time and ensures your voice is heard and valued in your health care journey. ❤️ Empowering Patients and Providers By filling out a WMTY postcard, you not only clarify your own priorities but also remind health care providers of the importance of these personalized conversations. This mutual understanding strengthens the patient-provider relationship and ensures that every interaction is centred around your unique needs and concerns. You can download your own WMTY postcard here. Take it with you to your next visit and experience how these small, thoughtful tools can make a big difference in your health care experience! | How to Embed the Spirit of WMTY into Your Care and Work For Patient Partners:
To communicate "What Matters to You?" it's important to make it part of your whole health care experience. Regularly use the phrase “What matters most to me about my health is…” to consistently express your priorities. The patient postcards serve as a helpful tool to prepare you to communicate what's most important to you and how you're feeling to your health care providers. Then, take the lead in having meaningful talks with your health care providers about WMTY. This ensures they hear your voice and respect what matters most to you. For Health Care Partners & Leaders:
Make "What Matters to You?" a part of your everyday practice. Start by bringing the “What Matters to You?” question into your daily interactions with patients, co-workers, staff, and other health care providers. This means showing empathy and understanding in every encounter. Take the lead in having meaningful conversations with patients and staff, really listening to what they have to say. Also, engage your community by using WMTY principles to tap into their knowledge. This helps create a health care environment where everyone feels included and valued. We want to draw your attention to the "WMTY & Joy in Work for Leaders" resource. This handy guide offers leaders a framework and practical steps to foster Joy in Work within their organizations. By incorporating the principles of What Matters to You (WMTY) into everyday practices, leaders can cultivate a more fulfilling work environment for their teams. | Join Us in Celebrating International WMTY Day As you have read, “What Matters to You?” is a simple question that can have a big impact. We love sharing stories like the ones above, so please share your own story with us about the impact the “What Matters to You?” question has had on your care experience. You can submit your story here, and use the #WMTY hashtag today to encourage others to share their stories. Everyone here at HQBC and Patient Voices Network extends their heartfelt wishes to all celebrating International WMTY Day. May this day be a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in health care and beyond. Let's continue to champion patient-centred care and meaningful communication in all our interactions. Happy WMTY Day from all of us! | Questions or Suggestions? Your feedback is very important to us. What else would you like to see in our newsletters? Send us an email, phone 604.668.8240 or 1.877.282.1919, or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
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