The implementation of Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) in various hospitals has given patients and families a new opportunity to have their perspectives influence hospital-related decisions (e.g., policies, staffing, communications, and facilities) and governance. However, concerns have been raised that PFACs serve as not much more than window dressing for some hospitals, rather than an authentic partnership between patients, their families, and health systems. This report describes the landscape, prevalence, and characteristics of patient and family advisory councils in New York hospitals, and identifies best practices and offers recommendations for implementing these types of advisory boards.