Engaging patients and families as co-developers of curriculum is the next element. This partnerships is critical to (1) understanding “what matters” to patients, families, and communities; (2) identifying where gaps exist in student and clinician education from the perspective of those receiving health care; and (3) improving interpersonal and communication skills to facilitate patient and family engagement.

Example

At Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, family leaders, clinicians, management, and students co-created 8 simulation scenarios that are now part of the curriculum for interprofessional staff orientation, grand rounds, and team meetings.

Example

In Lehigh Valley Health Network’s “Persons with Disabilities as Teachers Program,” parent and patient partners not only developed a video titled Patient Voices but also serve as faculty when it is used to educate primary care office staff.

Example

At Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital of New York at NYU Langone, the Sala Institute for Child and Family-Centered Care has advanced a patient and family faculty program that is integral to the hospital’s education mission. Patients and families who receive care at the hospital are recruited, mentored and trained as teachers and coaches of interprofessional teams in classroom and simulation settings. They, along with a multi-disciplinary team, co-designed the curriculum, scenarios and core competencies. Patient and family faculty teach and coach the interprofessional teams based on their personal experiences in the health care setting.