Putting the pieces in place: the patient education puzzle

Patient education has always been an integral part of quality patient care. Effective patient education is a necessary component of patient satisfaction and has proven instrumental in decreasing hospital days while improving clinical outcomes. Joint Commission and state public health departments regard patient education as one of many organizational performance standards. To be effective, health education must be coordinated among all disciplines involved in the continuum of care. The Patient Family Educational Advisory Committee (PFEAC) directed its efforts in identifying common patient education issues. The committee's initial work focused on areas dealing with culture, documentation and competency.