Allen County Regional Hospital to Establish a Patient and Family Advisory Council

Iola, Ks. — As part of Saint Luke’s Health System, our mission at Allen County Regional Hospital is to always be the best place to give care and get care. We strive every day for the best patient experience and work continually to improve and enhance the care we provide to all our patients.

One approach that Allen County Regional Hospital is taking to continue to meet this goal is by working to establish a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).

“The purpose of the PFAC is simply to assemble a group of patients and family members who partner with staff members for open, respectful, and purposeful dialog,” shared Bev Shaul, Director of Nursing and PFAC Staff Liaison. “We value the voices and opinions of our patients and their family caregivers. We want to have conversations with our hospital customers, taking direction from their insight and advice on ways we can improve the overall experience at Allen County Regional Hospital.”

Patient and family advisors will provide their perspective on changes to hospital policies, care practices, and materials that will help patients and families be actively involved in their health care.

"Feedback from our patient and family advisors will help us build strategies, create new materials, and implement process improvements that directly impact all patients' health care quality and safety," said Shaul.

Meetings are typically scheduled quarterly but may be called as often as once monthly to assist with more urgent project needs.

Patient and family advisors are asked to serve a term of one year with the option to renew for a second consecutive year. However, participation in the PFAC is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time.

To serve on the PFAC, individuals must be at least 18 years or older and must have been a patient or family caregiver of a patient at Allen County Regional Hospital within the last three years. Individuals selected for membership must attend an orientation training.

To apply, please visit www.saintlukeskc.org/PFAC and select Allen County Regional Hospital or contact Bev Shaul at bjshaul@saintlukeskc.org or 785-204-4062.

Allen County Regional Hospital is a member of Saint Luke’s Health System, which consists of 16 area hospitals and several primary and specialty care practices, and provides a range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.