PFAC members collaborate with hospital executives and staff, ensuring that the goals of the council align with the hospital objectives to improve the quality and safety of healthcare delivered to patients at Lompoc Valley Medical Center. The current objectives the PFAC is helping the hospital achieve are: Improving the patient experience; Improving patient safety and Improving regulatory readiness.
In February 2016, Lompoc Valley Medical Center created a new Patient and Family Advisory Council, a group designed to forge a strong partnership between its healthcare professionals and the community.
LVMC’s Patient and Family Advisory Council includes members of the community, hospital staff, physicians, and administration. The team’s goal is to improve the health of the community we serve and deliver high quality care, one patient at a time. Members work ensure that patients and families have a voice to influence culture change in hospital processes, raise awareness about hospital programs and improve patient safety and outcomes.
PFAC members collaborate with hospital executives and staff, ensuring that the goals of the council align with the hospital objectives to improve the quality and safety of healthcare delivered to patients at Lompoc Valley Medical Center. The current objectives the PFAC is helping the hospital achieve are: Improving the patient experience; Improving patient safety and Improving regulatory readiness.
In the two years since its establishment, PFAC members have provided advice and feedback to staff about hospital processes, working closely with the Quality Improvement and Case Management teams to integrate patient-centered care across the entire institution.
Aided by staff, including Quality Improvement Registered Nurses Erica Sanchez and Judy Begley, the PFAC members carried out the creation and installation of an award display case at the hospital’s lobby entrance. The glass-enclosed case holds a wide array of awards received by the hospital for meeting quality measures.
Another success came from past PFAC member Belinda Hammond, who helped facilitate the donation of a mobile playroom of toys for young operating room patients, as a way to make the hospital less frightening for children. PFAC members are now aiming to improve the patient experience through “rounding,” or taking time to visit patients in the Medical-Surgical unit to learn what the hospital is doing correctly in a patient’s opinion, and to determine what might need improvement.
Applications are now available for community members interested in serving on the council. We want members of the community to actively participate on this advisory council for positive change, by sharing their perspectives on a range of topics and process improvements.
