Patient Family Advisory Council

Partnering with Patients, Families and Caregivers

A patient and family advisory council (PFAC) is an organization of current and former patients, family members and caregivers that works together to advance best practices at a hospital. Volunteer patients and families collaborate with hospital employees (clinical, administrative and support) to provide guidance on how to improve the patient and family experience.

The information provided will remain confidential among the steering committee members.

Please note: If selected to participate in the Patient Family Advisory Council you will have a background check and be asked to sign a HIPAA confidentiality statement.

Join the Patient Family Advisory Council

Patient advisors are a diverse group of people who enjoy working with others and contributing ideas, while being able to hear and balance different perspectives with compassion and respect. To be on the Patient Family Advisory Council, you must:

Be empathetic
Have an interest in and show concern for improving the healthcare experience for all patients and their families, beyond your personal experience.

Participate in meetings
Attend quarterly council meetings and potentially serve on committees.

Share your insights
Have a positive approach and share insight and information about experiences in ways that will benefit others, while listening to and respecting different points of view.

Collaborate
Be able to communicate and cooperate with individuals whose backgrounds, experiences and styles may be different than your own.

Roles and Responsibilities
Patients and families are knowledgeable members of the care team and can offer unique perspectives and valuable feedback about their experience at a hospital. Learn more about what it’s like to serve on a PFAC.

• Serve as a communication channel and improve relationships between patients, families and hospital staff.
• Provide a way for patients and families to assist in evaluating and providing input on the delivery of services to patients.
• Collaborate as a partner with staff, physicians and administration in the planning and operation of programs and services to enhance care.
• Establish a link between the hospital and the community at large
• Provide opportunities for staff to listen to their customers.

What Goes on during a meeting?

• Share your healthcare experience with doctors, staff and other advisors.
• Participate in group discussions to talk about ideas for how the hospital can improve its care, quality, safety and services.
• Provide insight from the patient and family perspective about hospital policies, care practices and patient education materials.
• Identify patient and family needs and concerns.
• Serve on subcommittees and workgroups to help bring the patient and family perspective together.

For more information, please email your questions to pfac@sblhs.org.

Let us get to know you. Apply here.