Enhancing Patient Care: The Vital Role of PFACs and Volunteer Nurses

Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) transform healthcare by bringing together patients, families, and healthcare staff to improve care quality and patient experience. Learn why AARP and NOBC champion these councils, especially for older adults, and nurses’ crucial role in bridging communication and advocating for patient safety. Find out how volunteer nurses can significantly impact patient care while gaining professional growth and personal satisfaction. Read on to join us in this inspiring journey to create a more patient-centered healthcare environment.

What is a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)

A Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is a group that includes patients, family members, healthcare staff, and healthcare administrators, who collaborate to improve the quality of care delivered and the patient experience. PFACs provide valuable insights and feedback from the patient and family perspective, helping to shape policies, programs, and practices within healthcare organizations. PFACs aim to create a more patient-centered and effective healthcare environment by fostering open communication and partnership.

Examples of Impact PFACS have on patient care and Caregivers.

Redesigning Patient Welcome Packets: University Health’s PFAC helped redesign patient welcome packets to make them more user-friendly and informative, enhancing the overall patient experience.
Improving Discharge Procedures: PFACs have worked on simplifying and improving patient discharge procedures, ensuring that patients and their families clearly understand post-hospital care.
Enhancing Meal Options: Some PFACs have collaborated with hospital nutrition services to enhance patient meal options, including choices for those with dietary restrictions, increasing patient satisfaction.

Why are PFACs important to AARP and NOBC?

AARP recognizes Patient and Family Advisory Councils, or PFACs, play a vital role in enhancing healthcare, particularly for older adults. Hospitals are increasingly implementing PFACs to improve care and services, and AARP sees this as a crucial avenue to advocate for its members. NOBC sees this as an excellent opportunity to create an easy-entry pathway to board service. These councils provide a direct channel for families, especially caregivers, to voice their experiences and needs, ensuring that hospitals address the complexities of care transitions and home care, which are often critical for older adults. AARP and NOBC champion the inclusion of family caregivers and especially nurses’ perspectives within these councils, aiming to strengthen hospital practices like those mandated by the CARE Act. By doing so, they ensure that caregivers are better prepared to manage the demands of post-hospital care.

Why a nurse should be on all PFACs.

Nurses should be everywhere that decisions are made! Having a nurse on the Patient and Family Advisory Council is essential because nurses offer a unique patient perspective, bridging communication between staff and patients. Their clinical expertise informs decision-making and enhances care delivery, while their advocacy for patient safety and quality improvement ensures better outcomes. Nurses empower patient voices, contribute to professional development, and enhance patient satisfaction by fostering a more patient-centered healthcare experience.

Why nurses should volunteer to serve on a PFAC.

A volunteer nurse on a Patient and Family Advisory Council brings a unique patient perspective and clinical expertise, offering valuable insights into care delivery and patient-centered practices. They act as patient advocates, bridge builders, and policy influencers, facilitating communication and collaboration between patients, families, and healthcare providers. Serving on the council also provides professional growth opportunities, community engagement, and personal satisfaction from making a difference in patient care.

Hear from some nurses who are serving.

Elizabeth McGann: “As a new member of the Digestive Health Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at a New England medical center, I’ve had the opportunity to share my unique perspective as a nurse, patient, and caregiver. Contributing to a project to standardize patient education materials for endoscopic procedures has been incredibly rewarding. Knowing that my input is valued and can help improve patient outcomes.”

Connie Jastremski: “I am privileged to serve on a PFAC. Hearing about patients’ excellent care at the hospital through community members who are part of the PFAC is invaluable. Equally important is listening to the concerns of patients and their families and addressing them through actions taken by the hospital administration. I am honored to serve.”

Carol Conroy: “I strongly believe that many opportunities for improvement in communication, processes, patient experience, and safety risk mitigation come from the lived experiences of our patients and their families. The PFAC is the perfect forum to keep the lines of communication open and foster trust.”

Fundamentally, AARP and NOBC value PFACs to promote patient- and family-centered care, emphasizing shared decision-making and clear communication. This aligns perfectly with AARP’s overarching mission to support the well-being of its members, making PFACs an indispensable tool in their advocacy efforts, and with NOBC’s mission to improve the health of communities through the service of nurses on boards. Join us in building this important network and help impact patient care and the Caregiver’s experience.

Take Action

Through concerted efforts of AARP and NOBC, a peer network of nurses serving on PFACs was established, and more than one hundred nurses are involved, and twenty of those nurses are serving on a PFAC. Join us in making an enormous difference in patient care and helping improve the Caregiver experience nationwide. We cannot do this without you!

There are four ways that you can help.

Are you already serving on a PFAC? AARP has a PFAC Peer Network that meets monthly to help support nurses who want to serve and those who are serving on a PFAC. Register here to join the monthly calls and help others learn from your experience. Link
Want to serve on a PFAC and collaborate with AARP. Join the effort here
Do you know of an institution that would like to have a nurse serving on your PFAC? Email NOBC here.
Are you in an institution that wants to start, revitalize, or revamp your PFAC? We have nurse leaders who want to help you. Email AARP staff person- Will Stoner

Have questions about this initiative? Please get in touch with Will Stoner.