Advisory councils may also Annual or other review processes establish bylaws to guide how Advisory council goals and activities the council functions and outline council members’ For newly formed advisory councils, all members should be actively involved in the responsibilities. Bylaw development of the council structure and processes. During the first few months development and approval can that the advisory council meets, all members of the council will have the chance to take time because the bylaws suggest, discuss, and choose specific goals and activities to work on over the year. should be established i with agreement from all members Until more formal goals are established, general goals can be to: of the council. A new advisory Provide feedback and advice for changes to hospital policies, care council may want to generate a practices, and materials few guiding principles or norms Help create materials and strategies for improving health care quality and then wait until a and safety for all patients subcommittee can be formed Help hospital staff carry out changes to improve hospital safety and to develop more formal bylaws. quality Advisory council bylaws As an initial step, advisory councils may wish to undertake the activities described typically address functional in Appendix A: Working With Patient and Family Advisors on Short-Term Projects. issues such as: These activities include conducting walkabouts and sharing personal and Eligibility for professional experiences and stories. membership Expectations for how long a member Budget considerations serves on the council Meeting schedule Hospitals may want to reimburse patients and families for expenses (e.g., parking, transportation, child care) incurred during their work on the advisory council. Some Specific council programs also offer stipends or honoraria for participation in meetings. Many member roles and councils celebrate accomplishments or a membership term with small responsibilities acknowledgements, such as gift cards. Optional issues that may be Other budget line items for the advisory council may include: refreshments or addressed include: meals for council meetings, printing expenses, communication expenses (mail and Required training phone), and expenses for supplies. and orientation for new council Think creatively about whether and how you will secure funding for these members expenses. Some hospitals use an administration discretionary fund, some use general operating funds, some have guilds or service leagues that provide Expectations for earmarked dollars specifically for this support, and some write grants to attendance at community organizations or foundations. meetings Reimbursement for Strategies for successful advisory council meetings expenses
Advisory councils may also establish bylaws to guide how the council functions and outline council members’ responsibilities. Bylaw development and approval can take time because the bylaws should be established i with agreement from all members of the council. A new advisory council may want to generate a few guiding principles or norms and then wait until a subcommittee can be formed to develop more formal bylaws. Advisory council bylaws typically address functional issues such as: Eligibility for membership Expectations for how long a member serves on the council Meeting schedule Specific council member roles and responsibilities Optional issues that may be addressed include: Required training and orientation for new council members Expectations for attendance at meetings Reimbursement for expenses Annual or other review processes Advisory council goals and activities For newly formed advisory councils, all members should be actively involved in the development of the council structure and processes. During the first few months that the advisory council meets, all members of the council will have the chance to suggest, discuss, and choose specific goals and activities to work on over the year. Until more formal goals are established, general goals can be to: Provide feedback and advice for changes to hospital policies, care practices, and materials Help create materials and strategies for improving health care quality and safety for all patients Help hospital staff carry out changes to improve hospital safety and quality As an initial step, advisory councils may wish to undertake the activities described in Appendix A: Working With Patient and Family Advisors on Short-Term Projects. These activities include conducting walkabouts and sharing personal and professional experiences and stories. Budget considerations Hospitals may want to reimburse patients and families for expenses (e.g., parking, transportation, child care) incurred during their work on the advisory council. Some programs also offer stipends or honoraria for participation in meetings. Many councils celebrate accomplishments or a membership term with small acknowledgements, such as gift cards. Other budget line items for the advisory council may include: refreshments or meals for council meetings, printing expenses, communication expenses (mail and phone), and expenses for supplies. Think creatively about whether and how you will secure funding for these expenses. Some hospitals use an administration discretionary fund, some use general operating funds, some have guilds or service leagues that provide earmarked dollars specifically for this support, and some write grants to community organizations or foundations. Strategies for successful advisory council meetings
Strat1_Implement_Hndbook_508_v2.docx