Patient and Family Engagement (PFE)

Why We Want to Improve Patient and Family Engagement

Studies suggest that patients and families who feel part of the care team tend to be happier with their care and ultimately have better medical results. They are more likely to comply with their treatment and prevention plans, less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors and they have fewer Emergency Department visits and hospitalizations.

Additionally, according the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, when patients and families are involved, hospitals and healthcare systems have an opportunity to improve quality and reduce medical errors, healthcare-associated infections and readmissions.

Improving patient safety and quality of care requires a redesign of relationships in healthcare and a greater emphasis on patient and family engagement.

The Path for Implementing a PFAC: A Three-part Webinar Series

Are you trying to start a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) or set up a new PFAC for success? If so, we encourages you to listen to the 3-part PFE Learning Event series on how to implement a patient and family advisory council or patient representatives on hospital committee presented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

This 3-part learning series is designed to help hospitals bring together and support patient and family advisors (PFAs) in effective PFACs. The first event, held April 12, focused on assessing readiness and building the foundation for a PFAC.

Webinar Part 1

Assessing Readiness & Building the Foundation - focuses on exploring common barriers and myths of patient and family advisors (PFAs) and PFACs, provides tools to assess hospital readiness, and discusses strategies for building buy-in for PFAs and PFACs. Presenters also share experiences in creating PFACs in organizations and key lessons learned.

Listen to Part 1

Webinar Part 2

Recruiting and Selecting Advisors - focuses on discussing: (1) key qualities of an effective PFA and the role of diversity; (2) strategies to recruit advisors; and (3) how to select the “right” advisors for the role.

Listen to Part 2

Webinar Part 3

Building Infrastructure and Sustainability – establishing a mission and approach, developing bylaws, and preparing staff and members on how to sustain and implement a successful PFAC.

Listen to Part 3