biostudies-literatureUnknown25(3)Herrin J<h4>Background</h4>Patient and family engagement (PFE) in healthcare is an important element of the transforming healthcare system; however, the prevalence of various PFE practices in the USA is not known.<h4>Objective</h4>We report on a survey of hospitals in the USA regarding their PFE practices during 2013-2014.<h4>Results</h4>The response rate was 42%, with 1457 acute care hospitals completing the survey. We constructed 25 items to summarise the responses regarding key practices, which fell into three broad categories: (1) organisational practices, (2) bedside practices and (3) access to information and shared decision-making. We found a wide range of scores across hospitals. Selected findings include: 86% of hospitals had a policy for unrestricted visitor access in at least some units; 68% encouraged patients/families to participate in shift-change reports; 67% had formal policies for disclosing and apologising for errors; and 38% had a patient and family advisory council. The most commonly reported barrier to increased PFE was 'competing organisational priorities'.<h4>Summary</h4>Our findings indicate that there is a large variation in hospital implementation of PFE practices, with competing organisational priorities being the most commonly identified barrier to adoption.BMJ quality & safety182-9https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4789699biostudies-literaturePatient and family engagement: a survey of US hospital practices.PMC4789699Frosch DLHarris KGHines SHerrin JKenward KJoshi MSfalsePatient and family engagement: a survey of US hospital practices.<h4>Background</h4>Patient and family engagement (PFE) in healthcare is an important element of the transforming healthcare system; however, the prevalence of various PFE practices in the USA is not known.<h4>Objective</h4>We report on a survey of hospitals in the USA regarding their PFE practices during 2013-2014.<h4>Results</h4>The response rate was 42%, with 1457 acute care hospitals completing the survey. We constructed 25 items to summarise the responses regarding key practices, which fell into three broad categories: (1) organisational practices, (2) bedside practices and (3) access to information and shared decision-making. We found a wide range of scores across hospitals. Selected findings include: 86% of hospitals had a policy for unrestricted visitor access in at least some units; 68% encouraged patients/families to participate in shift-change reports; 67% had formal policies for disclosing and apologising for errors; and 38% had a patient and family advisory council. The most commonly reported barrier to increased PFE was 'competing organisational priorities'.<h4>Summary</h4>Our findings indicate that there is a large variation in hospital implementation of PFE practices, with competing organisational priorities being the most commonly identified barrier to adoption.2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Mar2025-04-04T10:28:22.864Z2019-03-26T22:42:35ZS-EPMC47896992608256010.1136/bmjqs-2015-004006