Adapting and responding to a pandemic: Patient and family advisory councils in children’s hospitals during COVID-19
This mixed-methods study investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) within children’s hospitals in the United States. Specifically, the study sought to understand how PFACs adapted operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how patient and family advisors (PFAs) were engaged in the response to COVID-19, and the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic with PFAC diversity, equity, and inclusion. The study consisted of a survey distributed to 228 children’s hospitals, with a 73% response rate, and in-depth interviews with selected survey respondents (n=12). While COVID-19 temporarily disrupted PFAC operations and forced rapid adaptations, most children’s hospital PFACs transitioned successfully to virtual meetings, with 86% reporting that their PFAC met at least once from March to December 2020 and 84% indicating that their PFAC planned to meet as frequently or more frequently than before the pandemic. The majority of respondents (72%) reported that attendance at virtual PFAC meetings was the same as or better than with in-person meetings. Interview participants reported benefits associated with virtual meetings, including the potential ability to recruit and engage PFAs who better reflected the diversity of the patients and families served by the hospitals. Children’s hospitals are well-positioned to be leaders in the field, contributing to the development of new approaches, lessons learned, and best practices moving forward. This is especially true as hospitals continue to navigate the evolving realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as PFACs address challenges associated with maintaining diverse, equitable, and inclusive councils.
Related content
-
Patient Family & Community Engagement | Staff & Provider Engagement
Round & Coach: Engaging Clinicians & Patients to Improve Communication and Care
This webinar presents four ways BSWH Hillcrest Medical Center improved HCAHPS scores to the 90th percentile. Discover how they incorporated elements of Relationship-Centered Communication to improve nurse and doctor communication. Learn how they engaged patients through consistent rounding. Key takeaways also include how capturing real-time patient feedback contributed to their overall success. Learning Objectives –
Learn more -
Patient Family & Community Engagement
Improving Communication: Patient and Family Centered Rounds
Dr. Mikelle Key-Solle, Pediatric Hospitalist, covers five themes physicians should consider when interacting with caregivers of color and non-English-language-preferring families. These principles aim to improve communication during patient- and family-centered rounds at Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center.
Learn more -
Culture & Leadership | Patient Family & Community Engagement
Adapting Rounding Programs Over Time: How Leading Organizations Evolve to Excel
One commonality among organizations excelling at rounding is their proactive approach towards the process. They avoid letting it become stagnant and, instead, show genuine commitment to utilizing rounding to improve outcomes. These organizations understand the importance of evolution and adaptation, continually shaping their rounding practices over time to curate processes that work best for their
Learn more