AHRQ Guide Presents Patient-Centered Approaches to Improving Quality and Safety

Working with patients and families as advisors at the organizational level is a critical part of patient and family engagement and patient- and family-centered approaches to improving quality and safety, according to a June 2013 guide released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Designed to help hospitals work as partners with patients and families to improve quality and safety, the Guide to Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Quality and Safety presents four main strategies. The first strategy shows how hospitals can work with patients and family members as advisors at the organizational level. The second strategy is designed to help improve communication among patients, family members, clinicians, and hospital staff from the point of admission.