Leading Through GovernanceLeading Through Governance – Patient/Caregiver Partner Experiences June 2026

PAN surveyed 191 patient and caregiver partners about their experiences in governance and oversight roles. Many respondents bring strong experience from research, health, nonprofit, and government settings, but support and onboarding were uneven.
The report highlights that governance works best when roles are clear, people are accountable, and patient voices are respected.

Download:

English PDF https://www.patientadvisors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PAN-Leading-Through-Governance-PatientCaregiver-Partner-Experiences-June-2026-June-25-2026.pdf

French PDF https://www.patientadvisors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PAN-Diriger-par-la-gouvernance-Experiences-des-proche-aidants-Juin-2026.pdf

AI-Scribe Toolkit and PAN Survey Announcement

AI-Scribe programs are now being used in healthcare settings across Canada. However, many patients might not be aware that their conversations are being recorded, or understand how the system works. We want to change that by providing you with helpful tools and information.

Introducing the AI-Scribe Toolkit

Over the past few months, we have developed the AI-Scribe Toolkit for PAN members. This includes:

AI-Scribe Guide: A brief explanation of how an AI-Scribe works and the significance of each question in the checklist.

AI-Scribe Checklist: A series of questions to ensure you have the necessary information to decide if consenting to an AI-Scribe is right for you.

AI-Scribe Survey: A way for you to share your experiences with us.

Stay Informed

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at hello@patientadvisors.ca. We plan to share some preliminary results by the end of September, and the AI-Scribe Survey will remain open until December 31, 2026.

Note: Currently, the AI-Scribe Toolkit is available in English, but we are working on a French translation and will update you once it’s available.

AI-Scribe Toolkit:

Warm regards,

Debra Turnbull & Chris Johnston

Patient Advisors Network

Patient Advisors Network Annual Report 2024 - 2025

The Annual Report reflects on the past year, highlighting milestones, financial resilience, and strategic growth directions for the Patient Advisors Network (PAN).

In 2024-2025, PAN focused on community engagement, capacity building, and partnerships to enhance people-centered healthcare.

Download: 2024 – 2025 Annual Report

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scribes to Reduce Administrative Burden and Enhance Data Interoperability in Canadian Primary Care

An evaluation among primary care clinicians across Canada who participated in Canada Health Infoway’s AI Scribe Program.

This report was prepared by the Centre for Digital Health Evaluation (CDHE) at the Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), to evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) scribes on administrative workload and clinical practice among primary care clinicians who participated in Canada Health Infoway’s AI Scribe Program between June 2025 and February 2026. The evaluation team included Patient Partner Evaluators from the Patient Advisors Network (PAN) Charlotte Munro, Mpho Begin, and Sandra Holdsworth.

💡 Highlights:

  • Reduced Administrative Load: 70% of clinicians reported less paperwork!
  • Improved Efficiency: Clinicians saved up to 1.11 hours per week!
  • Enhanced Engagement: Over 80% felt more engaged during patient visits.

Dive into the full evaluation and learn how AI is reshaping healthcare with the report here: https://www.patientadvisors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Evaluating-Artificial-Intelligence-AI-Scribes-to-Reduce-Administrative-Burden-and-Enhance-Data-Interoperability-in-Canadian-Primary-Care.pdf

The PAN Team

Evaluating First Contact Care and Health811 in Ontario

The Centre for Digital Health Evaluation at Women’s College Hospital has published a comprehensive report evaluating Health811’s role in Ontario’s first contact care. The report underscores opportunities for expanding Health811’s reach through AI integration, enhancing data use, and strengthening interoperability.

Patient Partner Evaluators from the (PAN) Patient Advisors Network, Donna Rubenstein and Suzanne Deliscar, were central to contributing valuable insights throughout the process. Their input helped ensure that patient perspectives were integral to the analysis and recommendations, strengthening the report’s focus on real-world care experiences and community needs.

The report outlines actionable recommendations for Health811’s growth, including:

  • Enhancing Marketing and Public Engagement
  • AI and Data Integration
  • Strengthening Stakeholder Communication

For further information or to discuss the report’s findings, please contact the Centre for Digital Health Evaluation at email: cdhe@wchospital.ca

Review the report here: https://cdhe.wchwihv.ca/assets/files/PDFs/Health811%20ON%20Final%20Evaluation%20Report_033126.pdf

Questions?  Please contact the PAN team: hello@patientadvisors.ca

PAN Gatherings 2026

Join us for a series of engaging PAN Gatherings throughout 2026 as we connect with our community across Canada.

These meet-ups are fantastic opportunities to meet fellow members, exchange ideas, and learn more about PAN’s initiatives. Upcoming dates and times will be announced, so stay tuned for more information.

If you have any questions or wish to RSVP, please reach out to us at: hello@patientadvisors.ca

Findings from Patient Advisors Network “Reimagining the Research Landscape” report, commissioned by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research in 2024 for the SPOR Refresh, revealed that patient/caregiver partners often feel like outsiders in the research ecosystem.

Resources:

PAN Members Community Guidelines


We want everyone to feel welcome on our PAN community site, so we’ve created these guidelines to foster the community we would like to see. By joining and participating in our Community, you agree that you have read and will follow these guidelines.

Within the PAN Community site and in our dealings with each other through other PAN initiatives:

  1. Be respectful. We all have a shared goal of making healthcare better for Canadians. The PAN Community may include people you work with or may meet in future. As members of PAN, we demonstrate respect in our communication, sharing and crediting of resources/knowledge and  in our interactions with each other and stakeholders from outside the PAN.

 

  1. Focus on a positive and collaborative approach.  Let’s work together to build strong relationships so we can achieve great things. Diversity of thought and sharing of perspectives is healthy – we won’t all agree on everything, but we want to keep an open mind to consider new ideas and change.

 

  1. Do not discriminate or engage in harmful activity. We value different ideas and opinions but there is no place for any activity that could hurt someone, whether it’s physical, emotional, mental or digital. Racism, hateful language, or discrimination of any kind is not acceptable. Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want everyone in the world to know about or that you wouldn’t want anyone to know that it came from you.

 

  1. Use your true identity. We made this community site private so that we can feel free to be ourselves. Each member is vetted by our team to ensure people are here for the right reasons. Communicating with each other is based on trust.

To ensure the PAN community remains a safe place for all members, we ask you that you contact hello@patientadvisors.ca if you encounter a situation where guidelines may have been breached. PAN reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership in the Community for anyone who violates these guidelines.

 

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Directives de la communauté des membres du PAN


Nous voulons que tout le monde se sente bienvenu sur notre site Web communautaire de PAN. Nous avons donc créé ces directives pour aider au développement de la communauté que nous aimerions voir. En rejoignant et en participant à notre communauté, vous acceptez de lire et de suivre ces directives.

Sur le site de Web de la communauté de PAN et dans nos relations mutuelles dans le cadre d'autres initiatives de PAN :

  1. Soyez respectueux. Nous partageons tous l'objectif d'améliorer les soins de santé pour les Canadiens. La communautéde PAN peut inclure des personnes avec lesquelles vous travaillez ou que vous pourriez rencontrer à l'avenir. En tant que membres de PAN, nous faisons preuve de respect dans notre communication, le partage et l'attribution de ressources/connaissances et dans nos interactions les uns avec les autres et avec les parties prenantes extérieures de
  2. Se concentrersur une approche positive et collaborative.  Travaillons ensemble pour construire des relations solides afin de réaliser de grandes choses. La diversité de pensée et le partage des perspectives sont sains - nous ne serons pas tous d'accord sur tout, mais nous voulons garder l'esprit ouvert pour envisager de nouvelles idées et des changements.
  3. Ne faites pas de discrimination et neparticipez pas à des activités nuisibles. Nous apprécions les idées et les opinions différentes, mais il n'y a pas de place pour les commentaires susceptibles de blesser quelqu'un, que ce soit physiquement, émotionnellement, mentalement ou numériquement. Le racisme, les propos haineux ou la discrimination sous quelque forme que ce soit ne sont pas acceptables. Ne publiez rien que vous ne voudriez pas que tout le monde sache ou dont vous ne voudriez pas que l'on sache qu'il vient de vous.
  4. Utilisez votre véritable identité. Nous avons rendu ce site Web communautaire privé afin que nous puissions nous sentir libres d'être nous-mêmes. Chaque membre est accepté manuellementpar notre équipe pour s'assurer qu'il est là pour les bonnes raisons. La communication entre nous est basée sur la confiance.

Pour s'assurer que la communauté de PAN reste un endroit sûr pour tous les membres, nous vous demandons de contacter hello@patientadvisors.ca  si vous rencontrez une situation où les directives ont été violées. PAN se réserve le droit de suspendre ou de résilier l'adhésion à la communauté de toute personne qui enfreint ces directives.

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Patient/Caregiver Partners (P/CPs) are people with lived/living experience of the health system as patients and/or caregivers committed to improving the health system. We use the term P/CP, however other groups use terms such as:
- patient advisor
- patient family advisor
- patient experience advisor
- patient partner
- patient public partner
- Person with lived/living experience (PWLLE or PWLE)

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