ABSTRACT
For patients with advanced heart failure involvement as a member of the healthcare team is critical to safe, high-quality and goal-directed care. While recognized as an important aspect of care, patient engagement is not yet a standard practice. This presents an opportunity for professional education and development in team-based care. This short report describes the development of a Community and Patient Advisory Team (CPAT) formed to support patient involvement in interprofessional collaborative practice. The CPAT, composed of patient and family advisors, researchers, care team members, and grant operations staff, served as a core team within the structure of a project to shape a new vision of care delivery. This was accomplished through participation in quarterly leadership workshops and facilitation of team training focused on patient-provider communication strategies to improve patient safety. The advisory team led the co-development of patient materials to support patient engagement during the new implementation of structured interprofessional bedside rounds. Involving community members as partners helped shape our work to more effectively and directly address gaps in current patient care.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the invaluable partnerships and collaborations out of which this work emerges with clinical partners at the University of Washington Medical Center, change team members from the advanced heart failure service line and grant team members from the Schools of Nursing, Medicine, and the Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Research, and Practice. Also acknowledged is financial support the project has received from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) grant # UD7HP26909.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
DC Lavallee
DC Lavallee is Research Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, University of Washington.
E Abu-Rish Blakeney
E Abu-Rish Blakeney is Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics at the University of Washington School of Nursing and Faculty in the Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Practice and Research.
Y Yu
Y Yu is co-founder of the Washington Advocates for Patient Safety based in Seattle, Washington.
R Johnson
R Johnson is co-founder of the Washington Advocates for Patient Safety based in Seattle, Washington.
DA Liner
DA Linerserved as Program Operations Manager in the Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Practice and Research.
NL Murphy
NL Murphy served as faculty in the Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Practice and Research.
SB Pambianco
SB Pambianco is an Advance Registered Nurse Practitioner at the University of Washington Medical Center and expert in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.
L Spacciante
L Spacciante is Nurse Manager for Heart Failure Specialty at the University of Washington Medical Center.
NY Woodard
NY Woodard is a program operations specialist in the Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Practice and Research.
BK Zierler
BK Zierler is Professor in Biobehavioral Nursing and Health System and co-Director of the Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Practice and Research.