Advancing PFAC Initiatives, Effectiveness, and Visibility through Strategic Planning and Assessment

Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) are a growing approach for engaging patient and family voices into healthcare organization decisions and projects. While their importance is well accepted in the literature, individual councils often grapple with practical challenges and a desire to elevate visibility and impact. Over the last ten years, Boston Children's Hospital's Family Advisory Council (FAC) has embedded strategic planning practices into council governance and operations to elevate council functioning and drive innovation. Beginning with an initial formal strategic planning and visioning process in 2016, followed by annual prioritization and strategic planning refresh sessions every three years, the FAC has advanced a wide variety of strategic planning initiatives with sub-committees. Highlights include initiatives related to patient experience, operational excellence, FAC culture, and DEI efforts. Accountability mechanisms ensure transparency, sustain momentum, and identify priorities. This article describes the strategic planning process, including practical tips, important elements for effectiveness and sustainability, and sample challenges. Evidence of success includes high impact initiatives and positive impacts on council functioning and visibility, demonstrated through both qualitative descriptions of initiatives and quantitative metrics from an annual FAC Assessment Survey. Strategic planning practices and resources help PFACs identify and prioritize initiatives, innovate, set goals to improve PFAC functioning, advance patient/family-centered care, and elevate PFAC visibility.