What is a Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC)?
A Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is a group of patients, family members, and clinic staff who work together to make our health center better.
It gives patients and families a voice in their care and a chance to share ideas about how the clinic can better meet the needs of the community.
Why is a PFAC important?
By joining, you help:
- Improve the patient experience at the clinic
- Make sure patients’ voices are heard in decision-making
- Strengthen trust and communication between staff and the community
- Share feedback on clinic services, policies, and new programs
- Support health care that is respectful, inclusive, and centered on patients and families
Who can join?
- Any patient of the John P. Musante Health Center
- A family member or caregiver of a patient
Language translation services will be provided for all members who join, so everyone can participate fully regardless of the language they speak.
No medical background is needed — just your experience and perspective.
How does the PFAC work?
Meetings: Held about once every 3 months in March, June, September, and December
Format: In-person
Size: Usually 6–12 patients/family members, plus clinic staff/partners
Length: About 1 hour per meeting
Topics:
- Ideas for making care more accessible
- How to improve communication with patients
- Suggestions for community outreach
- Feedback on new programs or clinic changes
What's the benefit of joining?
- Be part of positive changes at your local clinic
- Learn more about how health care works
- Build connections with other patients and staff
- Have your voice included in decisions that affect you and your community
Examples of PFAC projects in other clinics
- Helping design patient-friendly appointment reminders
- Creating health education materials in plain language
- Advising on clinic space to make it welcoming and comfortable
- Suggesting new services that patients want or need
Interested in Joining?
We’d love to have you! Here’s what we need from you:
- Your name and preferred contact method (phone, email, text, or WhatsApp), plus contact details
- Whether you are a patient or a family member/caregiver
- A short explanation of why you want to join the PFAC
- Any initial ideas or contributions you’d like to bring
- Your general availability for meetings (days and times)
- Any accommodations you may need (language, transportation, accessibility, etc.)
Contact: Debbie DiStefano | ddistefano@hchcweb.org