Patient & Family Advisory Councils
Essential to Cape Cod Healthcare's mission to coordinate and deliver the highest quality, accessible health services to all Cape Cod residents and visitors is our commitment to learn and improve the experiences of our patients and families.
For several years, Cape Cod Healthcare has drawn upon a variety of patient and family engagement activities to inform continuous improvement in care and service. Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) were established at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital to enhance and formalize our on-going commitment to patient and family engagement and help to inform the delivery of patient- and family-centered care. These Councils include patient, family and caregivers who meet regularly and share their experiences and unique perspectives to help us identify areas where we are doing well and pinpoint opportunities for improvement.
In 2018, Cape Cod Healthcare expanded its patient engagement opportunities and launched an Online Patient and Family Advisory Community to gather feedback and insights from patients, their family members and caregivers in an easy, flexible and time-efficient way. Participants in this online advisory community help shape the future with greater ease by filling out focused topic surveys on a periodic basis. The online format also increases the chances for new voices, as it is a goal to attract interest from a large and diverse pool of patients, family members and caregivers to address the health experience across population groups.
Through our PFAC platforms, Cape Cod Healthcare aims to:
- Strengthen communication and collaboration among patients, families, caregivers and staff.
- Promote patient and family advocacy and involvement.
- Propose and participate in programs, services and policies.
About Patient and Family Advisors
Patient and Family Advisors (PFAs) are volunteers who work in partnership with leaders, care providers and staff to collaborate on ways of improving the patient and family experience at Cape Cod Healthcare. Our goal is to deliver a positive care experience that involves listening to the people we serve, understanding their needs, and offering support and guidance in a nurturing and respectful way.
PFAs play a crucial role in shaping our services, programs and initiatives by:
- Providing a voice that represents all patients, and families and caregivers of patients, who receive care at Cape Cod Healthcare, including but not limited to Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital.
- Giving feedback based on their own experiences as a patient, family or caregiver.
- Volunteering their time to help improve the quality of care for all patients and family members.
Characteristics of a PFA include:
- Support of Cape Cod Healthcare's mission to coordinate and deliver the highest quality, accessible health services to all Cape Cod residents and visitors.
- Recent experience with care at Cape Cod Healthcare in any setting, as a patient, family member of a patient, or caregiver.
- Comfort with sharing ideas and experiences.
- Diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and respect for different views.
- Ability and willingness to commit to the terms of PFA participation.
- Enthusiasm about participating as a PFA and passion about making a difference.
Patient and Family Advisor Opportunities at Cape Cod Healthcare
Cape Cod Healthcare is currently seeking volunteers to join the Online Patient and Family Advisory Council.
Who can become an Online PFA (Patient and Family Advisor)?
- Any patient who has received care in the last two years.
- Caregivers and family members whose loved ones have received care in the last two years are also invited to participate.
- Advisors must be 18 years of age or older.
- Advisors need an active email account.
- Advisors should be able to commit to completing 6-10 online surveys about Cape Cod Healthcare—equaling 10 to 15 minutes every month or two.
- Advisors may be invited to participate in more in-depth studies or focus groups and will receive a one-time payment granted in recognition of the additional time and service rendered.
How do I sign up?
Making a difference through partnership
Cape Cod Healthcare PFACs develop plans that report on accomplishments, goals and objectives:
2017 Cape Cod Hospital PFAC Annual Report [PDF]
2018 Falmouth Hospital PFAC Annual Report [PDF]
