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Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC)

Purpose

Our purpose is to provide opportunities for patients and families to create positive changes in our healthcare delivery system by partnering with physicians, caregivers, and administrative team members at NCH to help everyone live a longer, happier, and healthier life.

History

In November 2020, NCH launched it’s first PFAC. A team of physician, front-line caregivers, support staff and administrative team members came together with the vision of creating a forum to understand the diverse needs of our patients and families. PFAC provides space for our patients and families to their important voice. The NCH Healthcare System is committed to serving our community. Our new Patient Family Advisory Council or “PFAC” was created to better care for the needs of our patients and their families.

What We Do

We feel that by partnering with patients and their families, hearing their voices and gaining their insights and perspectives, we’ll leverage an experience-based co-design to enhance service and care to our community. We recognize our patients and families and have unique experiences to share. In addition, we value our patient and families diverse cultural and spiritual needs. PFAC members volunteer their time and share their experience and perspectives. We feel that by partnering with patients and their families, hearing their voices and gaining their insights and perspectives, we’ll leverage an experience-based co-design to enhance service and care to our community. This co-design of shared experiences by patients and family members will identify key “touchpoints” for improvement throughout the NCH Healthcare System.

Key Areas where Advisors provide feedback:
  • Interactions and communication with NCH staff.
  • Coordination of care during your in-patient stay.
  • Informed about plan of care, medication safety, infection prevention, nutrition education, etc.
  • Experience with nutrition and other services at NCH.
Accomplishments to date:
  • Design and development of PFAC – Summer/Fall 2020
  • Invitation for patient and family members to join – November 2020
What your involvement as an Advisor means:
  • Commitment to serve as the advisor and voice of the NCH patient and family.
  • Commit to 10 meetings in a calendar year (attend at least 8)
  • Availability of roughly 3 to 4 hours per month between meetings and project work
  • Participate in special events or actives to raise awareness about PFAC.
Interested in becoming an Advisor?

No special qualifications or expertise are necessary to be a patient or family advisor. What is important is an individual’s experience as a patient or family member at the hospital. However, it is helpful to look for individuals who:

  • Are coping well with their hospital experiences
  • Are willing to talk about their experiences and can effectively share insights and information
  • Demonstrate a passion for improving health care for others
  • Ability to listen well, respect the perspectives of others, interact with various individuals, and work in partnership
  • Enjoy working with others, show a positive outlook on life, and bring a sense of humor
  • Represent a broad cross-section of your hospital’s population
  • Some experience with NCH (as a patient or family member) in the last 2 years