Engaging Patients and Families in the Quality and Safety of Hospital Care

Engaging Patients and Families in the Quality and Safety of Hospital Care

AHRQ Report Examines Patient and Family Engagement Activities

A new report on engaging patients and their families in the safety and quality of hospital care is available from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

The report, titled “Guide to Patient and Family Engagement: Final Environmental Scan Report,” assesses the current literature, tools and resources being used to engage patients and their families.

The report, available at http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/engagingptfam.htm, offers the following:

• A framework that describes how patient and family engagement can lead to improved quality and safety
• A description of factors that influence patient and family engagement, including characteristics and perspectives of patients, families, health care professionals, and hospital organizational and cultural factors
• Hospital-based methods and materials currently being used to engage patients and families in the safety and quality of care
• An analysis of the kinds of materials that are needed, but do not exist

AHRQ is using this report as the first step toward developing a Patient/Family Engagement Guide, now being pilot tested at three hospitals, which is expected to be finalized and available in mid-2013.