For patient and family advisors at UWMC
UWMC is committed to strengthening our partnership between our care providers, patients, and their families.
Advisors are vital to this partnership. Advisors are patient and family volunteers who work with UWMC care providers and staff to improve the health-care experience for everyone.
This partnership fosters the philosophy of family-centered care that is central to our services at UWMC.
A philosophy of providing care that:
- Recognizes the importance of patient and family involvement in health-care decision making.
- Emphasizes the strengths, priorities, and preferences that are unique to each family.
- Encourages a spirit of partnership between patients, families, and health-care professionals.
A partnership based on equity
UWMC Care Providers listen with care and seek to understand the perspectives and needs of patients and their families.
Advisors provide their perspective and ideas for improving the health-care process.
The result? Patients, their families, and care providers together shape policies, programs, facility designs, and day-to-day service interactions to continuously improve the care experience.
Any patient or family member who has received or is currently receiving care at UWMC and is interested in volunteering for two or more hours per month.
- Shares insights and experience in productive ways.
- Sees beyond his/her own personal experience.
- Respects diversity and differing opinions.
- Listens well.
- Collaborates on solutions.
- Has passion for enhancing the health-care experience.
- Council membership: There are several ways patient and family advisors can help improve the care experience. Serve in a one to two year position working in partnership with staff, nurses, and doctors in specific care areas.
Councils have made progress and changed care in ways only possible because of the active voices of patient and family advisors:
- Inpatient Cancer
- Perinatal/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Rehabilitation
- Emergency Department
- Program/Policy review: Design, implement, and evaluate health-care programs and policies that help assure the best possible care for patients and their families.
- Committee membership: Serve on committees. Examples include: Patient Safety, Patient and Family Education, American Disabilities Act, Aesthetics, Customer Service and Satisfaction Integration, and Service League Board.
- Education materials review: Provide input on education materials.
- Teaching: Teach staff and professionals-in-training by giving them an opportunity to learn directly from patients and families about the care experience (patients as faculty, families as faculty).
- Discussion groups: Participate in one-time discussion groups focused on a particular department or service. Past examples include creating a healing environment, facilities design, and creating an ideal check-in system for patients in the Surgery Pavilion.
Call Patient and Family Education Services at 206-598-2697. If you receive a recording, please include your name, interest in becoming an advisor, and a way to contact you. Or, send an e-mail to pfcc@u.washington.edu.