Patient and family engagement: a survey of US hospital practices. Issue 3 (16th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Herrin, Jeph; Harris, Kathleen G; Kenward, Kevin; Hines, Stephen; Joshi, Maulik S; Frosch, Dominick L
• Is Part Of: BMJ quality & safety. Volume 25:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 189
• Publication Date: 2015-06-16
• Subjects: Healthcare quality improvement -- Patient-centred care -- Leadership; Medical care -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Risk management -- Periodicals; Medical errors -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 362.106805
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-5415

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Patient and family engagement (PFE) in healthcare is an important element of the transforming healthcare system; however, the prevalence of various PFE practices in the USA is not known. Objective: We report on a survey of hospitals in the USA regarding their PFE practices during 2013–2014. Results: The response rate was 42%, with 1457 acute care hospitals completing the survey. We constructed 25 items to summarise the responses regarding key practices, which fell into three broad categories: (1) organisational practices, (2) bedside practices and (3) access to information and shared decision-making. We found a wide range of scores across hospitals. Selected findings include: 86% of hospitals had a policy for unrestricted visitor access in at least some units; 68% encouraged patients/families to participate in shift-change reports; 67% had formal policies for disclosing and apologising for errors; and 38% had a patient and family advisory council. The most commonly reported barrier to increased PFE was 'competing organisational priorities'. Summary: Our findings indicate that there is a large variation in hospital implementation of PFE practices, with competing organisational priorities being the most commonly identified barrier to adoption.