Journey Mapping

Journey mapping (or “patient journey mapping”) is a facilitated process for understanding the challenges and opportunities people experience in a service, program, or system. The “patient” or “client” is central to mapping: these are the only people who have a full perspective on the entire journey. Learn more about patient-only journey mapping and when we use this approach versus blended groups of patients and providers.

During a journey mapping session, people (“patients / clients”) share their perspectives and the map is composite of those qualitative experiences and serves as a narrative journey for identifying gaps, opportunities, and what is working well. We can also layer data on the completed map to deepen learning, either directly on the map, or as a “hidden” layer of information that appears when the viewer clicks different sections.

We have mapped complex journeys through cancer care, mental health & substance use, Indigenous wellness, opioid treatment, COPD, outreach services, severe asthma, ER discharge pathways, and detailed IM/IT data pathways… among many others!

As the majority of our Journey Mapping work is not released publicly, below are select samples we are able to share.

The purpose

Journey maps are a concise overview of the patient experience. The map represents what happens “on average” in a journey through the service, and this may be for a specific population, age range, diagnosis, or lived experience. Journey maps are a baseline from which to overlay different variations of the journey, inform changes, or identify areas that need deeper exploration.

The map places the client experience front and centre; the experience is not buried in pages and pages of surveys, quotes, or hidden in data. Additional layers of data or references can be overlaid on the map, so it’s a blend of both qualitative and quantitative information.

A range of people will find value in the map:

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Decision makers and managers

The journey map provides decision makers with a big-picture perspective on the patient / client experience to help identify service improvements, or advocate for programming or funding from boards. The map is an educational tool for those who are not familiar with the complexity of the journey. It can also be brought to team planning meetings to anchor the discussion in the patient / client experience.

Frontline staff

Depending on their role, frontline staff may only interact with the patient / client at one touchpoint in the journey and might not have a full picture. A journey map helps people see the full experience and think about their role in the bigger picture.

The public

Journey maps are an educational tool. The more people who are informed on the client experience of care, the better able they are to advocate for themselves or their family members if they start the journey. Public empathy and support for improving the client experience helps build resiliency against program cuts.

How do we journey map?

There is no “one way” to journey map, however, there are best practices. This is a high-level summary of the pathway most journey mapping projects follow:

Identify the Scope and Purpose

→ What are we mapping and why? How will it be used?

Roles and Collaborators

→ Who should we partner with so the journey mapping is successful? (for example, when collaborating with Indigenous perspectives, it’s best the session is lead, co-designed, and hosted with Indigenous partners)

Format and Design of the Session

→ What’s the best way to bring people together? (one group session vs. multiple vs. surveys?)

→ Agenda design: How will the graphics facilitate dialogue? What’s the right structure for the map?

→ Coordinating supplies, tools, resources

Running the Journey Mapping Session

→ Roles in the session & working as a team

→ Building the map, review & feedback process

→ Keeping people informed & involved

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Process for Building on the Map(s)

→ Defining next steps and a strategy for how the map(s) might be used

→ Designing how the map will facilitate dialogue with clinicians or other patient groups

→ Layering additional information or data links on the digital map

Advice & Support for Journey Mapping

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Every journey mapping project we are engaged on is provided with a comprehensive 30-page journey mapping handbook that has resources and tips for running sessions if you are not able to work with a professional graphic facilitator.

We are also available to advise on journey mapping projects, whether they are in early stages, underway already (and you need tips or advice on anything you’re struggling with), or you have a completed map and need advice on how to use it.

Contact us for a quote for advisory services for journey mapping.