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Patient Advisor Program
Help improve healthcare through your voice and experience.
Patient Advisors are patients, family members, and caregivers who partner with Henry Ford Health to improve care, support research, and make the healthcare experience better for current and future patients.
You do not need healthcare experience to become a Patient Advisor. Your lived experience as a patient or caregiver is what matters most.
Why become a Patient Advisor?
As a Patient Advisor, you can:
- Share feedback based on your own healthcare experiences
- Help improve programs, services, policies, and patient materials
- Partner with staff, leaders, researchers, and other patients
- Support changes that make care more patient- and family-centered
- Choose opportunities that fit your time, interests, and comfort level
Ways to get involved
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Henry Ford Health Advisor
- Serve as a Patient Advisor representative on a hospital council or committee. You will be considered a valued member of the group and will attend regular meetings focused on designing or improving a new or current program, service, policy or process.
- Review materials and/or provide feedback outside of meeting times
- Work closely with different clinical and non-clinical staff
- Communicate ideas in a clear and succinct manner
- Regular attendance and active participation is expected
- Required to sign confidentiality and photo release form
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Research Advisors
- Participate as a valued member of the Research Team working on a project
- Share ideas and give feedback on patient reading materials, strategies to enroll people into studies, and other parts of the project.
- Have input on project design and execution
- Required to sign confidentiality form and photo release form
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E-Advisors
- Share feedback by participating in short online surveys. Topics may include: patient care experiences, new services and improvement ideas, and better ways to partner with patients.
- Time commitment about 1-2 survey's a month
- Able to respond quickly and meet deadlines as requested
- Have access to email and internet to complete online surveys.
Join Henry Ford Insights, a community of people who share feedback by participating in short online surveys.
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Focus Group Patient Advisor
- Participate as a focus group participant and provide feedback on your own personal healthcare experience, as well as any topics that are brought to discuss
- Time investment is typically 1.5 to 2 hours per group meeting
- One time meeting session, not on-going
- Required to sign confidentiality and photo release form
What Patient Advisors help improve
Patient Advisors provide feedback on many topics, including:
- Patient and family communication
- Hospital and clinic experiences
- Patient education materials
- Digital tools and online resources
- Research studies and grant ideas
- Safety, quality, and care transitions
- New programs and services
What to expect
- Apply online
- Tell us about yourself and your interests.
- Complete a short phone conversation
- We will learn more about your experiences, interests, and availability.
- Attend orientation
- You will learn about the Patient Advisor role and expectations.
- Complete online forms
- This may include required confidentiality and program forms.
- Get matched to opportunities
- We will connect you with opportunities that fit your interests, experience, and availability.Onboarding process
Frequently asked questions
Do I need healthcare experience?
No. Patient Advisors are selected because of their lived experience as patients, family members, or caregivers.
Do I have to speak for all patients?
No. You are asked to share from your own experience while also thinking about how care can be improved for others.
Can caregivers become Patient Advisors?
Yes. Family members and caregivers are welcome.
Are there virtual options?
Yes. Some opportunities are virtual, including online surveys and select meetings.
How much time does it take?
Many advisors volunteer about 1–4 hours per month, but some opportunities are one-time or more flexible.
What if I am not sure which opportunity is right for me?
That is okay. The Patient Advisor Program team can help match you with an opportunity that fits your interests and availability.