Patient and Family Advisory Council

Patient Family Advisory Councils 

Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) are a productive way for patients and families to partner with a healthcare system to provide guidance on how to improve the patient and family experience. Healthcare organizations have embraced councils to not only learn from the consumer’s point of view and experience but also to integrate their ideas into service delivery and quality improvement efforts. This unique perspective from patients and families can positively impact care and assist with engineering a more customer-centered approach to the work of healthcare organizations.  

Patient and Family Centered Care 

According to the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care, patient-family centered care calls for new approaches to healthcare that are grounded in partnerships between providers, patients and families. Collaboration between these partners is necessary for the delivery of safe and effective care, and as such these relationships should be central to new processes. 

The Institute Outlines Four Core Concepts for Patient and Family-Centered Care*: 

1. Dignity and Respect: Healthcare practitioners listen to and honor patient and family perspectives and choices. Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning and delivery of care. 

2. Information Sharing: Health care practitioners communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful. Patients and families receive timely, complete and accurate information in order to effectively participate in care and decision-making. 

3. Participation: Patients and families are encouraged and supported in participating in care and decision-making at the level they choose. 

4. Collaboration: Patients, families, health care practitioners, and healthcare leaders collaborate in policy and program development, implementation and evaluation, facility design, and in professional education, as well as in the delivery of care. 

*From Advancing the Practice of Patient- and Family-Centered Care in Hospitals, available at ipfcc.org/pdf/getting_started.pdf 

Mission, Vision, and Goals 

Ray County Hospital and Healthcare’s PFAC mission is to improve the patient and family experience by incorporating patient and family voices into the delivery of care received.  

Ray County Hospital and Healthcare’s PFAC vision is to promote a patient-centered culture and establish partnerships between patients, families, and healthcare providers.  

The goals of the PFAC are to enhance quality, safety, and outcomes, as well as increase understanding and collaboration within Ray County Hospital and Healthcare. 

Membership and Recruitment of Advisory Council  

PFACs are comprised of former patients and family members whose experiences make them good candidates for serving in an advisory role and supporting staff. Sources for potential members can be staff recommendations, physician suggestions, word of mouth, tracked grievances or complaints.