This week, the Patient Voice Institute becomes the Patients’ View Institute.
Apparently, as we learned a couple of months ago, the phrase “Patient Voice” is trademarked. At least that’s what the letter from the lawyers said – the ones representing the company that claimed “trademark infringement”.
After exploring our choices, voluntarily changing our name seemed the least distraction from our work and mission: “to organize and amplify the patient voice, so patients have more impact on the quality of care we receive, and are equal partners in driving improvement in the health care system overall.” In fact, this development gave us an opportunity to review how far we’ve come.
This past year, PVI has gathered and distilled common themes and concerns – along research-based principles including Safety, Empowerment, Respect, Information, Affordability and Accountability – from delving into the stories of nearly 800 patients. This process has allowed us to develop clarity – actual data – around what patients want, need, and have the right to expect.
Thus, our new name, “Patients’ View Institute”, reflects an evolution, from:
Historical: no “patient voice” in the room
To Current: a “patient voice” at the policy meeting, board room or podium (congratulating ourselves for patients being included)
To The Achievable Opportunity: the views of patients collectively understood, effectively conveyed, and ultimately having more impact on policy, practice & products. Thus, “Patients’ View Institute” fits. (But you can still call us PVI.)
PVI wants to help patients offer the benefit of their story on two levels: to present a unique personal experience in compelling ways; and to empower them to present that same story mapped, in quantifiable ways, to the experiences of a vast, diverse community of patients. We believe together we’ll benefit patients, and those who provide care to them, in ways yet undiscovered.
There’s lots of work ahead, including refining PVI’s curriculum, training and speaker offerings. Plus we’ve got YOUR story to listen to and learn from. Please tell it here.
Meantime we’re really grateful to every one of you who’s told your friends about PVI, shared your story, sent us feedback, praised, kvetched, and re-posted our stuff.
Please don’t stop now.
