Hospitals are improving the health and well-being of communities through a care model that fosters collaboration between clinicians, patients and their support systems.
Person- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) — often referred to as Patient and Family Engagement (PFE) — is an approach to care delivery that has been shown to improve health outcomes, lower costs, enhance patient experience and boost overall staff satisfaction.
In a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, two members of the MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council from MyMichigan Health and Michigan Medicine provide first-hand insight on the powerful impact of PFE.
“Relationships are at the heart of everything,” said Michelle Brady, MSHAL, BSN, RN, CPXP, director, patient experience and relations, MyMichigan Health. “While we have the beautiful benefits of technology, we cannot lose sight of the human connection. These [PFE] councils are a lifeline to continue humanizing care across the continuum. We have to keep the patient — and the family — at the table.”
Brady has been a registered nurse for 36 years and a leader for the last 15. In her current role, she supports the success of MyMichigan’s PFAC to ensure patients and families are at the center of goal setting and system decision-making.
Alongside Brady was Michele Mitchell, BS, MS, PMP, a nationally recognized patient advocate and breast cancer survivor. Following years of working in healthcare, being on the other side further ignited Mitchell’s passion for amplifying the patient voice in care delivery, education and research.
“Patients who participate in their care stay healthier longer,” said Mitchell, who previously co-chaired Michigan Medicine’s Department of Pathology PFAC. “This is not just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do. The best care happens when providers see the whole person, not just the diagnosis. When patients are genuine partners in their care, everyone wins.”
The episode, released during Patient Experience Week, offers actionable ways for healthcare teams to implement PFE and uplift its value to hospital leadership.
The MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council provides guidance and support to Michigan hospitals to extend and enhance PFCC across the state. The council is made up of MHA staff, stakeholders and advisors who work to ensure the voice of patients and families are incorporated into hospital initiatives and efforts. It also provides a great opportunity for networking, collaboration and sharing of best practices for PFCC.
The episode is available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube. Questions or content submissions for future MiCare Champion Cast episodes and Hospitals Help articles can be directed to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA. Those interested in learning more or getting involved in the MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.
In the episode, there is reference to a 2023 Cochrane Library study and research from the National Library of Medicine.
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