Roadmap to Inviting, Engaging, and Including Patient/Family Partners in Quality Improvement and Other Related Initiatives

Patient and family partnerships are essential.

There are a variety of miles to cover and turns to take on the journey of effective engagement and inclusion of a Patient/Family Partner (PFP) onto a work group, advisory council, Quality Improvement (QI) team, or other clinical or health systems initiatives. Pre-planning is likely needed in advance of inviting PFPs to join in on the journey.

This roadmap includes guidance for many steps along the process, from preparing to invite a family partner to the group to thinking about sustainability.

While the 12 stages of this roadmap are listed in sequence, some points along the way may occur simultaneously, some might need to be returned to over time, and others may need to be consistent and continuous throughout.

The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) and the Florida Department of Health Office of Children’s Medical and Specialty Services developed the Roadmap to Inviting, Engaging, and Including Patient/Family Partners in Quality Improvement and Other Related Initiatives in the spring of 2021 through the Florida Children's Medical Services Learning Action Network initiative (FL CMS LAN).

The roadmap guide was developed by Linda Hampton Starnes, Statewide Family Leader, Title V Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program, Office of Children’s Medical Services (CMS), Florida Department of Health, in collaboration with CMS’s Learning and Action Network (LAN) partner, the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ). Lead Editor was Eliza Williamson, Senior Project Manager, NICHQ, with supplemental editing by: Sandra Widland, NICHQ and CMS LAN Project Director; Joni Hollis, Bureau Chief, Office of CMS; Kelli Stannard, Nursing Consultant, Office of CMS; and Angela Miney, Family Partner, University of Florida Health Pediatric Pulmonology Center.

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