Improving patient-based care has a range of benefits for patients, providers and health care services including improving patient care experience, staff satisfaction, clinical outcomes and operational benefits.

The CEC is committed to partnering with patients, family and carers as consumers of health care services to improve health care safety and quality.

The important role that partnering with patients can play at all levels to improve care, processes and the health care system has been acknowledged internationally and in the Garling Inquiry into the Acute Care Services in NSW Public.

The Partnering with Patients program is consulting to develop several streams including:

• Family activated rapid response teams to assist deteriorating patients;
• Engaging patients and family in bedside handover;
• Engaging patients & family in medication reconciliation to avoid errors;
• Rounding on patients by patient representatives/'patient friends' to provide real time feedback about concerns whilst in care;
• Promoting patient-based values and associated communication skills to doctors & nurses;
• Building leaders to champion patient-based care within health care services;
• Promoting engagement in open disclosure when adverse events occur;
• Guidance & service assessment to improve health literacy within care delivery services;
• Improving communication in emergency departments.

An expert advisory committee helps to inform the program. A Consumer Advisor Panel facilitates partnering with patients and families on CEC's safety and quality initiatives.

The aim of this Challenge is to assist health services to improve patient based care. Rising to the Challenge will help services to meet new performance goals and national health service standards.

Taking up the Challenge requires a range of strategies to help transform health care services for patient-based care including:

• Leadership
• Commitment
• Communication of the mission
• Engaging patients, families and carers
• Supporting engagement to transform care
• Use of patient feedback to drive change
• Focus on the work environment
• Building staff capacity
• Supporting a learning organisational culture
• Accountability

The CEC “Partnering with Patients” Program is here to work with Local Health Districts in NSW to assist in transforming services to include patients and family as care team members and improve consumer engagement to promote safety & quality in health care.

Click here to view the Challenge brochure.

The PFAE Network supports the integration of Patient Based Care in health care systems and opportunities to discuss challenges, successes, and strategies for implementing Patient and Family Activated Escalation across Australia. Around Australia there are models of Patient and Family Activated Escalation at varying stages of development. The Clinical Excellence Commission has established a PFAE Network to share information, resources and provide a platform for collaboration to support Patient and Family Activated Escalation. The PFAE Network currently includes members implementing or investigating Patient and Family Activated Escalation in New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania. Other organisations and individuals interested or involved in Patient and Family Activated Escalation across Australia are encouraged to take up this opportunity and link-in.

If you are interested in being part of this PFAE Network please contact us by emailing alison.gal@cec.health.nsw.gov.au or calling us on 02 9269 5517.