In this episode of Consumer Health Partnerships, we speak with Anja Christoffersen from Champion Health Agency and Dr. Jeremy Kerr from QUT Design Lab about the importance and application of co-design in the healthcare sector.

Anja and Jeremy share their extensive experience in co-designing health services and projects, highlighting the need for genuine consumer collaboration. Discussing their respective roles and achievements, including Jeremy's project on resources for health professionals and Anja's integrated design methods. They aim to demystify co-design, explaining its methods and the significance of creative and empathetic collaboration. As well as addressing the benefits and challenges involved in implementing co-design practices in healthcare environments.

Key Takeaways:

• Participation Importance: Highlighting that co-design needs practical participation to fully understand its value.
• Co-Design Methods: Various methods like journey mapping and empathy mapping are critical in understanding lived and professional experiences.
• Starting Small: They recommend starting small with co-design methods, focusing on comfort and practicality.
• Framework Adaptability: Emphasising that co-design frameworks must be adaptable to different contexts and needs.
• Creative Collaboration: Successful co-design relies on creativity and empathetic collaboration, with no predetermined outcomes.

Links & Resources:

• Anja Christoffersen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-christoffersen-999446152/
• Jeremy Kerr: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/jeremy.kerr
• QUT, School of Design: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/faculty-of-creative-industries-education-social-justice/school-of-design
• Design for Health: https://research.qut.edu.au/designlab/programs/

References mentioned by Jeremy during the podcast:

• Link for the book via Australian distributor (cheaper than international publishers): https://www.hachette.com.au/jeremy-kerr/the-art-of-co-design-solving-problems-through-creative-collaboration
• Eating disorder co-design podcast link (In Full Bloom): https://open.spotify.com/show/6uhfJm0F2oUFOEdW1Y4K1W (it’s on Apple podcasts too!)

Consumer Health Partnerships is a podcast for healthcare stakeholders that spotlights the synergistic power of partnering with consumers to share a human-centred health system. We share inspiring stories and practical strategies from healthcare professionals at the forefront of embracing a human-centred approach to patient experience and co-design. We are redefining care by respecting their patients’ equal place in conversations about their health.

This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.