Be the voice of patients and families

Patients and families are primal to everything we do. Penn State Wellness's Patient- and Family-Centered Care Advisory Councils bring together families, patients and infirmary staff to aid provide the best care to our patients.

Feedback from patients and their families helps Penn Land Health create a better feel for anybody who comes through our doors. Together, our quango members identify areas where we can improve the patient and family unit experience, then piece of work to make those changes happen.

Members of our Advisory Councils speak from experience – they've been patients, family unit members and/or caregivers. They know that sharing their experiences can help improve the health and well-beingness of every patient at Penn State Health.

Our focus

The Patient- and Family-Centered Care Advisory Councils:

  • Seek input from the patient and family perspective to ensure our services meet their needs
  • Found a forum to develop creative solutions for the wellness organisation and its staff
  • Meet with a variety of hospital leaders to collaborate on new initiatives

Council initiatives

  • Provide ongoing feedback on quality and safety issues, marketing campaigns, food services and patient satisfaction
  • Made coffee stations available in family waiting areas
  • Started Comfort Cart with amenities for visitors
  • Advised on food sourcing project
  • Participate in various hospital councils and committees

Who can bring together?

To join one of our Patient- and Family-Centered Intendance Informational Councils, you need to:

  • Be a patient or family fellow member of a patient who is receiving or has received care at Penn State Wellness
    • Family, equally divers by the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care, refers to two or more persons who are related in whatsoever style – biologically, legally, or emotionally. In the patient- and family-centered care approach, the definition of family unit, also as the degree of the family'due south involvement in wellness care, is adamant by the patient, provided that he or she is developmentally mature and competent to practise so.
  • Commit to serving on a council for at least one year
  • Attend monthly meetings

When do we meet?

Penn State Health's Patient- and Family-Centered Intendance Advisory Councils each meet for 1 ane/2 to 2 hours in the evening once a month. Zoom links or meeting locations volition be provided to members.

How can I join?

If y'all have ideas to help improve treat Penn State Wellness patients and their families, we invite you to join as a Patient- and Family unit-Centered Care Informational Council member. Your voice matters to u.s.a. and volition assistance us improve the care we provide to all.

Submit an application

Still would similar more than data? Please electronic mail PatExp@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or call 717-531-0003, ext. 284511.

Hear from our council members

I call back it'southward rewarding to requite the patient's perspective on ideas that the staff may have, and it's only as interesting to get the staff's perspective on ideas that we patients have.

Patient/Family unit Council Member

Council members have a voice to assist the institution amend the patient experience.

Staff Council Member

I bring to the tabular array considerable experience as a patient. I take been in and out of hospitals for 69 years. I think I have seen quite a wide variety of intendance over the years.

Patient/Family unit Quango Member

I promise to bring a physician perspective on our piece of work surroundings in our desire to treat all patients respectfully and in a caring mode

Staff Quango Member

Lion Intendance and Cubby Care Awards

Demonstrating the Core Concepts of Patient- and Family-Centered Care

At Penn Land Wellness, nosotros believe families are an extension of the patient and a partner in their care. This belief is at the center of our patient- and family-centered care model.

Family, as defined by the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care, refers to 2 or more than persons who are related in whatever way – biologically, legally or emotionally.

The Patient- and Family-Centered Care Advisory Councils created two awards to celebrate our staff  and faculty who embody the caring spirit of our team. Nominees may include anyone who had a directly or indirect impact on patients and families. Nominations for the awards are reviewed by the Patient- and Family-Centered Intendance Advisory Councils, and nominees are historic annually.

Criteria for the Panthera leo Care and Cubby Care Awards

Nominees may be individuals or teams who demonstrate, provide and support patient- and family-centered care in some or all ways:

Dignity and Respect

  • Shows intendance and concern for the whole patient and family, not merely for a single diagnosis
  • Connects with patients on their level
  • Demonstrates an investment in patients' development or recovery
  • Fosters relationships based on respect between providers, patients and families

Information Sharing

  • Communicates in a articulate manner, using terms that patients and families understand
  • Keeps the patient and family informed, involved in care planning and aware of programs and services, as needed
  • Is present during all conversations, is a expert listener, speaks to the patient and family and provides prompt follow-up

Participation

  • Partners with and involves the patient and family unit as members of the care squad
  • Encourages and supports patient and family unit participation in care and decision-making at whatever level they choose
  • Includes patient and family unit choices, observations and goals in the programme of care

Collaboration

  • Models behavior for others by introducing themselves, explaining their role in terms that tin can exist understood and offering ways to be contacted by the patient and family
  • Advocates for and engages the patient and family to be active participants in planning intendance as a means to improving the care feel

Penn State Health Cubby Care and Lion Care Awards are displayed on a table top

How to nominate a staff fellow member or squad for the Lion Intendance or Cubby Care Award

Anyone tin can nominate someone for a Cubby Intendance or Lion Care Award. You lot tin can complete and submit the form online.

Submit a Nomination Today!