Patients and their families are essential partners in the effort to improve the quality and safety of healthcare.” – US Dept of Health and Human Services.
In Summer of 2018, Valor Health began to focus on the nationwide hospital quality initiative of patient and family engagement by implementing a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).
Recommended community members were interviewed and selected as advisors to work together with dedicated staff members with a focus on increasing patient satisfaction, quality, and safety. The Council meets once per month and has been sharing personal patient experience stories, discussing opportunities for performance improvement, and reviewing engagement and marketing initiatives. Advisors have also been spreading awareness within the community, and will be participating at future Valor Health events, including the Community Health Fair, scheduled May 18th from 10am-2pm at the Valor Health Campus.
At a recent Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Improvement Workshop, the Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care recognized Valor Health for being one of four CAH in Idaho that has a Patient and Family Engagement program. There are currently 27 Critical Access Hospitals in Idaho.
Valor Health is proud to lead this positive change in our community and in our state. For more information or to submit an application to become a PFAC Advisor, please contact PFAC@valorhealth.org or call (208) 901-3209.