SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Developing and Operationalizing a Research-Focused Patient and Family Advisory Council (Pfac) for a Hospital Medicine Research Network

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This document describes the creation and operation of a research-focused Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) for HOMERuN, a national multi-center Hospital Medicine research network. Because PFACs dedicated specifically to Hospital Medicine research are rare, the team used PCORI seed funding to develop an iterative six-stage process to build a sustainable council grounded in evidence-based best practices.<br /><br />The PFAC includes 12 volunteer patients and caregivers representing 10 geographic areas and hospital systems across the United States. Since August 2018, the council has met monthly. Recruitment involved a multi-faceted strategy, including referrals from site investigators and outreach to patient advocacy groups. Members were selected based on hospitalization experience, ability to reflect beyond personal experiences, communication and listening skills, respect for others, and diversity of perspectives. New members received orientation to the research network, expectations for participation, and relevant training such as PCORI research fundamentals.<br /><br />The PFAC contributes across many aspects of research, including helping shape study topics, design, data collection, recruitment and retention strategies, patient-facing materials, and dissemination plans. The council has also engaged in broader partnership activities, including input on seven grant submissions, four of which were funded. In addition, PFAC members co-authored five publications and 10 conference abstracts.<br /><br />The authors conclude that establishing a PFAC for a multi-center Hospital Medicine research network strengthens patient-centered research by ensuring that patients and caregivers remain central to the research process and meaningfully influence study development and implementation.

Asset Subtitle

James D. Harrison

Meta Tag

Author List Andrew D. Auerbach, Beverly Rogers, Catherine Hanson, Georgiann Ziegler, Gina Symczak, Jacqueline Alikhaani, James D. Harrison, Jeffrey L. Schnipper, Jim Banta, Martha Carnie, Melissa Cunningham, Melissa Wurst, Patricia Evans, Safia Michel, Tiffany M

Category Innovations

Concept PFAC

Concept Patient-Centered Research

Concept Patient Perspective

Concept Patient Advisor

Concept Caregiver Advisor

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of California San Francisco

Presenting Author James D. Harrison

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

Patient and Family Advisory Council

PFAC

Hospital Medicine research

HOMERuN

patient-centered research

caregiver engagement

multi-center research network

PCORI funding

research dissemination

patient partnership

PFAC

Patient-Centered Research

Patient Perspective

Patient Advisor

Caregiver Advisor