O'Neil Center for Patient Engagement Research

Advancing the science of patient and family engagement

Connecting the art and science of patient engagement

The O’Neil Center for Patient Engagement Research is the industry’s first think tank for studying and advancing the science of patient and family engagement. Our team of clinical researchers translate patient engagement theory into practice, informing more effective healthcare management by:

Leveraging empirical evidence to validate the relationship between engagement of patients and their families and the resulting outcomes

Developing evidence-based tools and processes to help healthcare organizations drive more effective patient engagement strategies

Driving global industry thought leadership and best practices


Key milestones

Everything we do is in partnership with our clients.

2014

June

O’Neil Center for Patient Engagement Research founded and named after GetWellNetwork Founder + CEO Michael O’Neil, a cancer survivor

October

Published, “Interactive Care Model: A Framework for More Fully Engaging People in Their Healthcare” in the Journal of Nursing Administration

2015
2016

March

Published, “Patient and Family Engagement Summit: Needed Changes in Clinical Practice” and “Nurse Manager Competencies Supporting Patient Engagement” in a special edition of the Journal of Nursing Administration

March

Completed Person Engagement Index™ instrumentation study and officially launched GetWell PEI™, a measurement tool to better understand a person’s capacity to engage in their healthcare journey, at The Beryl Institute’s annual Patient Experience Conference in Denver, Colo

2017
2018

July

Published, “The Design and Testing of the Psychometric Properties of the Person Engagement Index Instrument to Measure a Person’s Capacity to Engage in Health Care” in the Journal of Nursing Measurement

May

Published, “Innovative Collaborative Partnerships to Conduct Multisite Research: Strategies for Success” in the Journal of Nursing Administration

2019

July

O’Neil Center and University of Pittsburgh fellows published, “Socio-Demographic Predictors Associated with Capacity to Engage in Health Care” in the Patient Experience Journal

Clinical Advisory Council

The Clinical Advisory Council is an important component in the work of the O’Neil Center for Patient Engagement Research. The council develops standards, models, tools and research needs around patient engagement in an effort to advance the science of patient and family engagement. It’s comprised of clinicians, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, nurse researchers and academics from the nation’s leading healthcare organizations and universities.