The first level is direct patient care, in which
patients get information about a condition and answer questions about their preferences for
treatment. This form of engagement al lows pa-
tients and providers to make decisions based
on the medical evidence, patients’ preferenc-
es, and clinical judgment. In the second level
of engagement, organizational design and
governance, health care organizations reach
out for consumer input to ensure that they will
be as responsive as possible to pat ients’ needs.
In the third level, policy making, consumers
are involved in the decisions that communi-
ties and society make about policies, laws, and
regulations in public health and health care.