To create a patient- and family-centered culture that involves a collaborative partnership among patients, families, hospital leadership and staff.
Patient and Family Advisory Councils
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has over 20 PFACs offered across our care centers.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, PFAC meetings have switched to the virtual format.
PFAC Vision
PFAC Mission
To improve the delivery of safe and quality health care by providing a way for the community to collaborate with hospital staff, enhancing experience for patients and their families.
COVID-19 Support
PFAC members provided Johns Hopkins leadership with insight and guidance on messaging related to COVID-19 and return to care in hospital and ambulatory clinics. One of the members acted as a liaison between The Johns Hopkins Hospital and her community to sew and donate over 700 masks and 100 headbands to the hospital.
Music at Bedside
Musician Jacob Lyerly plays guitar at a patient’s bedside as part of Sound Rounds (previously Musicians on Call), a PFAC initiative created in partnership with the Peabody School of Music.
Raising Funds for Children
The Teen and Children’s Council annual “Baltimore Boogie” event raised over $45,000 for sick and injured children in the local community.
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:
Be empathetic.
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 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine PFACs
In addition to the below councils, you can also join the PFACs with the Johns Hopkins Home Care Group and Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. If you are interested, please email patientfamilycouncil@jhmi.edu.
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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The Purpose and Responsibilities of 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 partners with staff, physicians, and administration in the planning and operation of programs to enhance care and services.
- Provide opportunities for staff to listen to their customers.
- Establish a link between the hospital and the community at large.
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What You Might Do During a PFAC Meeting
- Share your healthcare experience with doctors, staff and other advisors.
- Participate in group discussions to talk about ideas for how a 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 to these efforts.
- Encourage and support patient-centered care across the institution.
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What Is Patient- and Family-Centered Care?
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.