Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital Looking for Volunteers to Serve

Patient and Family Advisory Council Seeking New Members

Perhaps you’ve recently been a patient or have accompanied a friend or family member who have recently been a patient at Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital.’ And perhaps you’ve made observations during those visits as to how we could improve the patient and family experience. The Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) involves patients and families in partnership with Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital health care leaders, physicians and staff, to participate in shaping policy, program development and decision-making. The Patient and Family Advisory Council acts as a consultant and resource for Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital. New members of the council are needed and community members who would like to share their ideas, thoughts and concerns should consider joining.

Council members share insights that help leadership see through the eyes of patients and families, often leading to changes that directly improve the patient and family experience. With direct access to decision makers at Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital, the PFAC has made an impact on the culture of the organization and the issues that affect the patient experience.

Recent initiatives include:

Contribution to a transfer packet containing valuable information for patients and their families during potentially stressful moves to another health care facility.
Identified changes to the Medical Practice Survey to include relevant information for patients and families.
Recommended the use of coaster pagers in outpatient procedures to improve privacy and assist hearing-impaired patients.’

To serve on the PFAC, you must be a current or former Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital patient, or a family member of a current or former patient. There are no qualifications for joining the council, other than a willingness to share your thoughts and ideas, and a sincere interest in improving the experience of all that receive care at Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital. To be considered for the role, participants should plan on a two-year term; attend monthly meetings to offer feedback and to share ideas openly, honestly and respectfully. PFAC members are volunteers and must complete an application and background check. Discussions and dialogues with other members of the council should include respect for others and their opinions, embrace cultural diversity as well as differing opinions.

As a member of the PFAC, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference by sharing your ideas, perspectives and stories to design a health care experience that is exceptional for all patients and their families. For more information, contact Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital Center for Exceptional Experiences at (231)832.8550 or email Lisa Flint at lisa.flint@spectrum-health.org.

Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital is a 25 bed acute care hospital located in Reed City, Mich. that has adopted the Planetree approach to care giving. A model of patient centered care in a healing environment, staff is committed to improving medical care from the patient’s perspective, empowering patients and families through education, information and encouraging healing partnerships with caregivers. Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital offers a newly renovated emergency department with private treatment rooms, an expanded medical imaging department, a regional cancer treatment center and an Eden Care award winning 54 bed rehab and nursing facility. Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital has been recognized for its quality care by the Michigan Quality Improvement Organization and has earned the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Improving Care in the Hospital Setting for 3 consecutive years, the Total Benchmark Solution quality award for 2005 and the 2006 and 2007 VHA Leadership Award for clinical excellence.