What is the difference between patients and other stakeholders?

PCORI defines “patients” as persons with current or past experience of illness or injury, family members or other unpaid patient caregivers, or members of advocacy organizations that represent patients or caregivers. Stakeholder partners may include members of constituencies based on professional, rather than personal, experience. For example, these constituencies can include clinicians, purchasers, payers, industry, hospitals and health systems, policy makers, and training institutions. Some individuals may fit into several categories. For more information on how PCORI defines “stakeholders,” visit http://www.pcori.org/content/pcori-stakeholders.