Engaging patients and communities is invaluable for achieving a patient-centered learning health system. Based on lessons learned in genomic and public health public engagement efforts of our community based organizations in Flint, Michigan, we offer a continuum model for distinguishing various levels of community engagement and recommendations for approaching community, patient and public engagement for healthcare systems that are expanding uses of health information.
Keywords: community engagement; learning health system; patient-centered healthcare; public engagement; quality improvement; trust.