The Pediatric Experience Collaborative: Paving the Way in Pediatric Experience

Abstract

Positive patient experience is associated with improved patient outcomes, but efforts to improve patient experience are often underprioritized, especially with respect to pediatric care. To address this challenge, leaders at several US children's hospitals established the Pediatric Experience Collaborative (PEC) in 2016 to leverage their collaboration and scale to optimize patient, family, and provider experiences. Since then, the PEC has steadfastly incorporated the patient and family perspective in all its endeavors (e.g., installing a family member as one of the organization's co-chairs); has created both structured opportunities and unstructured opportunities for learning and connection; and has embarked on multi-institutional research among its 20 + members, beginning with a survey on the impact of video visits in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having achieved success through this collaborative model, the PEC is preparing for its next phase of growth by concentrating on three key objectives: expanding the evidence base for best practices in pediatric patient experience (PPX), elevating the national importance of PPX within the healthcare industry, and strengthening the national PPX community.