What is a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)?
A Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is a partnership between patients, family members and hospital staff who care deeply about the work of their hospital. Together, they work to enhance quality of care, improve patient safety and enrich the overall experience for patients and their families.
Through regular meetings and open dialogue among individuals with diverse perspectives, PFACs ensure that the opinions, needs and lived experiences of patients and their families are not only heard but actively integrated into a hospital’s service and quality improvement efforts.
Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s PFAC: Voicing Opportunities for Improvement, Collaboration and Engagement (VOICE)
Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s PFAC, called VOICE (Voicing Opportunities for Improvement, Collaboration and Engagement), brings together our patients or their family members with recent experience in any of our care settings, along with members of our healthcare team—including doctors, nurses, hospital staff and administrators—to share insights and help shape the future of care at our hospital.
Understanding the real experiences of our patients and their family members is essential to accomplishing the “patient-centered” part of our mission to “serve our community with excellent, patient-centered care”. Our patients are at the core of everything we do, so we actively listen to their voices, value their opinions and involve them in shaping how their care is delivered.
This focus on collaboration, transparency and mutual respect helps ensure the care provided at Sheridan Memorial Hospital is not only clinically excellent but also responsive to the emotional, cultural and practical needs of the people we serve.
- Engage patients and family members as advocates in their own or their loved one’s healthcare experience
- Provide input that impacts the quality of care and patient safety at our hospital
- Ensure patients’ and family members’ opinions are considered when plans are developed
- Create a supportive venue to share opinions, thoughts, and personal experiences
- Empower individuals to use their personal experience to make a difference and give back to the community
- Foster collaborative relationships between patients, families and healthcare teams
- Identify opportunities for improvement, enhancing patient safety and quality of care
- Provide an effective process for receiving and addressing consumer feedback
- Boost employee satisfaction and engagement
- Support strategic planning and align services with the needs and priorities of those we serve
A 2018 survey found that hospitals with effective PFACs reported higher overall patient satisfaction scores and improved outcomes in key areas, such as lower 30-day readmission rates, fewer pressure ulcers and a reduced incidence of sepsis, compared to hospitals without a PFAC. (NYSHF_2018_PFAC_Online_v3.pdf)
VOICE consists of individuals who have had recent care experiences at Sheridan Memorial Hospital in any setting, either as patients or family members, as well as hospital healthcare providers, administrators and staff. We are specifically looking for individuals who:
- Feel comfortable sharing ideas and personal experiences in a group setting
- Bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and demonstrate respect for different viewpoints
- Can commit to regular monthly meetings for at least a one-year term
- Support Sheridan Memorial Hospital mission to “serve our community with excellent, patient-centered care”
- Are passionate about making a positive difference in healthcare
I’m interested. How do I apply?
To apply, please complete the VOICE application by filling out the form below. You may also:
- PRINT A COPY of the application and mail it to:
Sheridan Memorial Hospital
c/o Jody Hecker, Patient Advocate
1401 W. 5th Street
Sheridan, WY 82801
- DOWNLOAD and complete the fillable application, then email it to:
jodyhecker@sheridanhospital.org
Have questions or want more information?
Please contact Jody Hecker, Patient Advocate