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 or healthcare organization. Volunteer patients and families collaborate with employees (clinical, administrative and support) to provide guidance on how to improve the patient and family experience.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has over 20 PFACs offered across our care centers.
Each PFAC typically meets for two hours in the evening, once a month.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, PFAC meetings have switched to a virtual format via Zoom.
PFAC Vision
To create a patient- and family-centered culture that involves a collaborative partnership among patients, families, leadership, and staff.
PFAC Mission
To improve the delivery of safe and quality health care by providing a way for the community to collaborate with staff, enhancing experience for patients and their families.
Why Join a PFAC?
What it Means to Be in a PFAC
At John Hopkins Medicine, we are committed to partnering with current and former patients, families, and caregivers to improve the healthcare experience for all. In this video, our PFAC members share why they joined a council, and what PFAC membership means to them.
Sharing Perspective from the Bedside
What is important to you during your healthcare experience? What do you wish the healthcare team knew? Through patient and family advisory councils, your opinions and feedback are not just heard, they're put into practice.
Join a Patient and 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 a patient and family advisory council, you must:
Show dignity and respect for others.
Have an interest in and show concern for improving the health care experience for all patients and their families, beyond your personal experience.
Participate in meetings.
Attend monthly council meetings and serve on committees.
Share your ideas.
Have a positive approach and share ideas 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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine PFACs
Patient Advisor Role and Responsibilities
Patients and their 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 serving on a PFAC.
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- Promote respectful, effective partnerships between patients, families, and clinicians.
- Increase understanding and cooperation between patients, families, and staff.
- Transform the culture towards patient- and family-centered care.
- Improve quality, patient safety, and patient health outcomes.
- Establish a link between the hospital and the community at large.
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- Share healthcare experience with doctors, staff and other PFAC members.
- Participate in group discussions to talk about ideas for how our healthcare organizations can improve care, quality, safety, and services.
- Provide insight from the patient and family perspective about 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 to these efforts.
- Encourage and support patient-centered care across the institution.
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The philosophy of patient- and family-centered care focuses on:
- Respect for patients' values, preferences, and needs.
- Coordination of care for more efficiency.
- Comfort and emotional support for mental health.
- Information, communication, and education.
- Involvement of family and friends.