Patient and Family Advisory Council
MISSION: To support the Hackensack Meridian Health mission by providing resources and guidance to strengthen collaboration between caregivers and patients, and to assure the delivery of the highest standard of comprehensive and compassionate, patient and family-centered, health care throughout Hackensack Meridian Health Network.
PURPOSE: To engage patients and their families in the work of the Patient and Family Advisory Council, thus having a direct impact and influence upon care and services within Hackensack Meridian Health Network. To assure alignment, integration, and continuous quality improvement in patient and family centered care. The Patient and Family Advisory Council serves as a formal mechanism for involving patients and families in policy and program decision-making.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The role of the Patient and Family Advisor is primarily consultative. Members will serve as the voice of patients and families. Members assure patient and family participation in medical care and decision- making, information sharing and policy and program development.
Members offer advice, information and recommendations on planning, policies, and procedures. Information from this group will provide leadership with an enhanced understanding of how to improve quality, program development, service excellence, communications, patient safety, facility design, patient and family education, staff orientation and education and patient and family satisfaction and loyalty.
Members may:
- Present information, ideas, needs, expectations, and concerns of patients and families to Hackensack Meridian Health leaders and caregivers;
- Recommend refinements to operations, policies or procedures;
- Review selected communication and education materials to help write them from the patient and family perspective making them more understandable and user friendly;
- Review patient satisfaction survey results and make recommendations for addressing identified concerns;
- Identify structural and cultural barriers to patients obtaining health care services and recommend strategies to overcome them;
- Act as a sounding board for new or existing services, policies, health related programs, communications, and business strategies;
- Assist in establishing priorities related to patient and family needs;
- Identify issues and opportunities for consideration by the PFAC; and
- Consider matters referred to the PFAC by Hackensack Meridian Health leadership.
Qualifications
- Service oriented individual
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work with a diverse group of people
- Ability to communicate clearly and accurately
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to listen to differing opinions and share a different point of view
- Support the mission of Hackensack Meridian Health
- Share insights and information about your patient experience
- Ability to see beyond your personal experience
- Respect diversity and the perspectives of others
- Adhere to the beliefs: Collaborative, Courageous, Creative and Compassionate
- Adhere to the Hackensack Meridian Health Code of conduct
- Speak comfortably, and with candor, in a group
- Work in partnership with others
Competencies
- Work effectively and cooperatively with others
- Work independently and with supervision
- Adhere to Hackensack Meridian Health confidentiality guidelines
- Understand and emulate Hackensack Meridian Health behavioral standards
Requirements
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Application:
- Complete the Volunteer application process (if applicable)
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Time Commitment:
- 4-5 hours/month minimum, additional hours are welcome
- Training:
- Completion of Patient Family Advisory Council Member Orientation (1 hour)
Core Values
Perform duties in a manner that reflects Hackensack Meridian Health mission and values. Respect the dignity and appreciate the worth of each person as demonstrated by display of compassion, caring, and acceptance of individual differences. Exercise ethical and responsible stewardship of all Hackensack Meridian Health resources. Work collaboratively and value the involvement, cooperation, and creativity of others. Support the fair and just distribution of health care resources to all in our community.