Background
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) defines the goal of working with patients and caregivers as bringing their perspectives into care planning, delivery and evaluation through sharing insights based on their identified needs and experiences (“Working with Patients and Families as Advisors”, AHRQ, 2008). Engaging the patient and caregivers in healthcare has become essential practice in stroke systems planning. Within the Central South Regional Stroke Network, individuals have been engaged through committee membership, community events and strategic planning. Recognizing the need to continue this engagement based on the network’s strategic direction, a project was initiated to formally integrate the patient voice, through forming a regional patient and caregiver advisory council. 
Objective
To describe the planning, recruitment and launch of a regional patient and caregiver advisory council.
Methods
Groups of nursing students were engaged and completed literature reviews and interviews with advisory councils locally/provincially. This work focused on defining the patient experience, gathering evidence for councils and examples of council structure and function. Local patient experience experts were also consulted. This work has provided the structure for the recruitment process, volunteer description and draft terms of reference. 
Conclusion 
Integration of patient and caregiver voices is vital as the network strives to implement stroke best practices across the continuum of care, while remaining patient-centred. The process of launching an advisory council has involved literature review and expert consultation. Further results regarding the council’s cross-region structure and future directions will be described after the council’s inaugural meeting in spring 2018.

MY STORY, MY EXPERIENCE: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL STROKE PATIENT AND CAREGIVER ADVISORY COUNCIL ACROSS THE CENTRAL SOUTH REGIONAL STROKE NETWORK