National Health Users’ Day in Quebec

On this inaugural National Health Users’ Day, we wish to highlight the exceptional and valuable contributions of patients who are active within our institution. Their participation takes many forms: patient partners; members of the MUHC Users’ Committee (MUHC Patients’ Committee); members of the Residents’ Committee at the Camille-Lefebvre long-term-care centre; community representatives on the Research Ethics Board; and members of the Board of Directors of the Establishment-MUHC and its Vigilance and Quality Committee.

Regardless of the area in which they are involved, the lived experiences and perspectives of these volunteers tangibly enrich improvements in care and services, research and teaching—and consequently the patient experience—across both adult and pediatric settings.

For example, some patient partners contribute to innovation projects, while others serve on institutional committees or on working groups for the provincial patient partnership strategy, where their input helps align projects and policies with patient concerns and guide priorities. The Community of Patient Partners and the Pediatric Patient Council at the Montreal Children’s Hospital help integrate the perspectives of children, adolescents and their families into the development of programs, among other initiatives. The MUHC Patients’ Committee formed several groups—including the Indigenous Advocacy and Mental Health Advocacy subcommittees to name just two—to help it ensure the MUHC responds to the needs of patients and the community by promoting timely access to quality care, as well as healing environments and approaches that are culturally safe, appropriate and inclusive.

Thanks to our patients, we gain a deeper understanding of their realities, the obstacles they may face, the decisions that should be shared, and the concerns that deserve careful reflection and meaningful change. These contributions illustrate how essential patients are as partners in building a healthcare system that is more humane, more equitable and more responsive to the needs of the people and communities we serve.

The MUHC is deeply grateful for the commitment of its patients to continuous improvement. Together, let us celebrate this very first National Health Users’ Day.

Lucie Opatrny, MD, MSc, MHCM, FRCPC
President and Executive Director, MUHC