Patient & Family Advisory Council

Patient and Family Advisory Council

Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is a collaboration between UnityPoint Health – Meriter's Patient Experience Partners, employees and community members. This group meets quarterly to share their healthcare experiences and discuss creative solutions that will improve the patient and family healthcare experience. Our goal is to create a healthcare environment that is welcoming, comfortable, safe and easy to navigate for our patients and their loved ones.

PFAC members are encouraged to openly discuss their concerns and share their honest suggestions on how to best create positive changes. Our members are involved in various projects, such as assisting in creating new patient related programs, participating in initiatives that address specific needs of patients and their family members, provide feedback about how information is communicated to the public and much more!

Council members should:

• Have good listening skills.
• Be committed to finding solutions.
• Be concerned in impacting our community.
• Show discretion and respect confidentiality.
• Have an open mind to different points of view and a positive approach.
• Be willing to share opinions, experiences and provide beneficial feedback.
• Have the ability to work with individuals whose backgrounds, attitudes and approaches may be different from their own.

Patient and Family Advisory Council Mission Statement

Our mission is to enhance the overall patient experience at UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital; by partnering with community members and acknowledging their ideas and perceptions, to ensure we are creating a positive experience for patients and their families.

How Advisors Partner with Meriter Management and Staff

Patient & Family Advisors work with Meriter management and staff to understand the current health care system and provide information of the needs and concerns of patients and their families. They provide insight on the best ways to make changes to address patient and family needs, assist in the planning of new patient-related programs, provide feedback on how the information is communicated to the public and how they serve as a valuable resource for feedback on a wide array of other issues, services and policies. The advisory council is comprised of patients, family members of patients and with the support provided by Meriter staff.

Join PFAC

Ideal candidates would be willing to share their opinions, experiences, and provide constructive feedback on methods in which we can enhance the way we provide health care to patients and their families. If you are interested in joining the council, contact the Patient Experience Partners in the Service Excellence Department at 608-417-6408.