Table 1.

Comparison of patients’ role and power in token patient centricity versus patients as empowered design partners.

	Token “patient centricity”	Patients as design partners
Involvement of patients	Passive; when asked by the power holders	Active at all times
Patients’ decision power	None; their opinions are sought but need not be heeded. The system is free to continue not responding	Shared
Type of input provided by patients	Share their opinions when invited	Actively influence design decisions, including what gets worked on
Mode of involvement	Through surveys, questionnaires, and focus groups, all organized by the power holders	By sitting on project committees and advisory boards that set agendas
What level of decision-making patients influence	Any level within the organization	The highest level of decision-making