Success of Patient and Family Advisory Councils: The Importance of Metrics

Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Councils have been around for over 40 years. Yet, their adoption is waning with only slightly more than 50% of hospitals fielding Councils, which are composed of patient and family volunteers, who provide feedback to hospital staff. Demonstrating the value of Councils is critically important to their success and sustainability. Hospitals can ensure Council success by adopting these initiatives: (1) Highlight the importance of measuring program impacts to Council liaisons and members, (2) Educate members and staff about the three types of impacts defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality, (3) Describe the steps to ensure that the value of the Council is well documented, and (4) Provide tools and training for the Council and staff to conduct robust measurements and analysis. When Councils measure their impact, their value to hospitals and leadership will increase.