Hospitals and clinics use data to guide quality improvement efforts, monitor progress toward goals, demonstrate accountability for care quality, and highlight successes. It is important that health systems engage patients throughout these data-driven efforts to build trust and transparency, focus on what matters most to patients’ health, and get a holistic view of what care teams are doing well and where to make improvements.

This tool provides guidance for how health care organizations can strengthen data-driven quality improvement efforts by partnering with patients and community members. It includes key steps, discussion questions, conversation starters, and a practical example to help hospitals and clinics partner with patients throughout the process of using data to improve care. The tool was developed as part of Engaging Patients of Color to Advance Health Equity, an initiative led by the Center for Health Care Strategies with support from the New York Health Foundation.