Engaging patients and family members in patient safety--the experience of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

As one of its strategies to improve care, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) has launched a number of initiatives to increase patient and family member involvement in the delivery of mental health services, including the hiring of peer counselors and the use of parent advocates. The effort to orient mental health services toward a more rehabilitative and recovery model has resulted in a significant change in the clinical culture. The article outlines patient and family member initiatives undertaken by the Corporation and offers some preliminary results that show the strong bond between increased patient and family member involvement and patient safety.