Examples of Practice Improvement Projects Established by Patient Advisory Councils
| Area of Impact | Examples |
|---|---|
| Clinic physical space | Improved waiting room chairs |
| Creation of wheelchair access | |
| Clinic artwork | |
| Posting of facesheets/bios of providers | |
| Healthy vending machine food | |
| Improved clinic signage | |
| Patient care/care communication | Distribution of BP cuffs and scales for patients |
| Creation of patient feedback comment box | |
| Patient emergency medical sheet | |
| Improved visit summary | |
| Improved Spanish-language materials | |
| Patient-designed clinic brochure and welcome letter | |
| Redesigned advance directive packet | |
| Feedback on provider practice regarding giving bad news | |
| Feedback on barriers to immunization | |
| Creation of patient visit preparation tool | |
| Patient calendar | |
| Clinic workflow/system | Feedback on online patient portal/electronic medical record |
| Feedback on staff customer service | |
| Designing PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles) | |
| Program to reduce patient no-shows | |
| Improved telephone access and Spanish-language phone access | |
| Interventions to reduce patient wait time | |
| Impact on clinic culture | Staff are more receptive to patient feedback |
| Staff seeks patient feedback before initiating projects | |
| Staff draw connections between improved patient experience of care and improved patient adherence | |
| Staff exposure to patient narratives | |
| Changes in staff language more focused on patient experience | |
| Initial staff resistance has abated | |
| Movement to include patient members in other clinic programs and working groups | |
| Improved sense of gratification and mission in work |
BP, blood pressure.