Patients’ Board

Participation and Dialogue

The participation of patients and users in the planning of healthcare strategies, as well as their involvement in decision-making processes, is an essential condition in a modern healthcare system committed to the effectiveness, quality, and efficiency of the services provided.

The Candiolo Cancer Institute has promoted the establishment of a Patient Representatives Board, aimed at placing patients at the center of the care system and fostering structured dialogue between all stakeholders. The initiative is designed to strengthen engagement and pursue the following objectives:

• Broaden the organization’s strategic vision by identifying patients’ priorities, expectations, and needs
• Integrate the perspectives of patients and family members into care, treatment, and research decision-making processes
• Redesign interactions between the healthcare facility and users, with a continuous improvement approach to services and care pathways
• Enhance patient education and empowerment in oncology through a bidirectional model of communication, information, and training

Patient representatives are selected according to the following criteria:

• Patients who have been under the Institute’s care for at least six months
• Patients with an ongoing care relationship with the Institute
• Patients followed across different specialties (medical and surgical), ensuring a representative sample of the main care pathways

Candidates for Board membership are identified upon recommendation of the Institute’s physicians from among patients who meet the above criteria. The Medical Director subsequently convenes selected individuals to invite them to join the Board. Participation is entirely voluntary, and members may withdraw at any time, for any reason, by notifying the Health Directorate.

To facilitate effective exchange of perspectives while preserving diversity of viewpoints, the Board is composed of between 13 and 18 representatives.