Windom, MN – The Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Windom Area Health (WAH) was selected as the recipient of the 2024 Patient and Family Engagement Award from the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) for their work in examining and promoting positive experiences for patients and their families throughout the hospital.
PFAC was formed in 2016 to serve as the eyes, ears, and voice of the community. Currently, PFAC consists of seven community members, including one Governing Board member, and five WAH employees. These members provide feedback and serve in an advisory capacity to support in personalizing and improving the healthcare experience through safety and performance improvement efforts.
With a desire to continually improve, seek input, and collaborate, a number of positive changes have been implemented, such as the drive to address patient mobility challenges. Two benches have been strategically placed in the main hallway for patients to take a break, as well as a new miniature golf cart, known as the Shuttle Bug, was purchased to transport patients to and from their appointments within the facility. PFAC also assisted in the redevelopment of the WAH website, patient admission packets, improved signage in the emergency department, and advocated for the addition of murphy beds in the post-partum rooms.
According to the MHA, the Patient and Family Engagement Award recognizes a team that is successful at using patient and family collaboration to drive improvement throughout the organization, assisting in defining and assessing care practices and systems that serve to assure our organization is respectful and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values.
“WAH has had a dedicated and robust PFAC for the last 8 years, and they have truly improved our patient experience,” shares Emily Masters, Chief Human Relations Officer at WAH and PFAC member. “They’ve impacted everything from seating, to paint, our website, even our employee of the quarter program, and it’s been great to see them being recognized for those efforts by the MHA.”
If you are interested in learning more about PFAC or are interested in joining, contact Emily Masters at [email protected] or call 507-831-0625.