Introduction
Capturing the “patient experience” in a manner that supports healthcare in providing quality care in a consistent manner while also effecting necessary change, continues to be a challenge for patients and patient organisations. The patient experience is often described as “the patient story” – an expression which, in itself, can sometimes detract from the perceived value of what is being offered as an accurate representation of the reality in relation to how care is actually delivered. Particularly in the area of education, the articulation of these experiences by “real people”, patients and family members, elevates the “story” to being an effective learning tool. This supports the didactic course material and promotes sustainable culture change to provide care that is truly patient-centred, especially in the areas of communication and adherence to guidance and protocols.