The Impact of Patient Engagment: ICER’s Journey and R3 Project

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is a leading nonprofit organization that evaluates the value of medical treatments, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions about healthcare access and affordability. In 2020, with the support of the Donaghue Foundation, ICER took a step toward embedding patient perspectives into its work by establishing a Patient Engagement Program. This program laid the groundwork for fostering a deeper understanding of patient experiences, increasing accessibility to ICER’s processes, and incorporating diverse voices into drug evaluations.

The Donaghue Foundation’s original funding supported three foundational initiatives:

1. The creation of a Patient Council to guide patient engagement strategies.
2. The development of an online Patient Portal to simplify access to engagement opportunities.
3. A patient honoraria pool to encourage direct participation in ICER’s research and public meetings.

Building on this foundation, ICER’s R3-funded project focused on expanding the capacity of the Patient Council to amplify the diversity, impact, and inclusivity of patient participation in healthcare research. This 18-month initiative emphasized meaningful integration of patient perspectives into ICER’s assessments and aimed to address healthcare disparities while enhancing trust and transparency in their processes.

Through the R3 project, ICER made strides to:

• Increase participation of diverse patient stakeholders.
• Systematically integrate patient preferences into value assessments.
• Foster greater understanding and collaboration between ICER and patient communities.

ICER’s commitment to patient engagement demonstrated that healthcare decisions are most effective when informed by those directly impacted. By prioritizing patient voices, ICER aims to advance innovation in healthcare assessment and work toward a system that is equitable, transparent, and patient-centered.

Learn more about how ICER’s Patient Council shaped the future of patient engagement!
Watch their Soapbox video where ICER’s Director of Patient Engagement, highlights the Council’s achievements, progress, and the impact of their work to amplify patient voices in healthcare decision-making. Click here to watch the Soapbox Vlog.