Family Advisory Council
“The final stage of healing is using what happens to you to help other people.” — Gloria Steinem
Since its creation in 2017, the Family Advisory Council (FAC) has been an integral part of WVU Medicine Children’s. This council has assisted in shaping the physical design of the new Children’s Hospital that opened in September 2022. It has also contributed to numerous programs, processes, and patient/family experiences.
Mission The mission of the FAC is to enhance the delivery of health care at WVU Medicine Children’s by advocating, advising, and refining policies, practices, specialized services, and facilities.
What is the Family Advisory Council?
The Family Advisory Council (FAC) is a collaborative group of staff and family advisors working to make the patient experience the best that it can be. Family advisors may have received medical care themselves as a child or be the family member of a child who is receiving or has received care at WVU Medicine Children’s.
Interested in joining?
If you are 16 years of age or older, have been a patient or family member of a patient at WVU Medicine Children’s, and are interested in improving the overall patient experience at the Children’s Hospital, you should consider applying to be a family advisor. Open, honest, and respectful discussion is encouraged at each meeting to help future patients and families have the safest and best experience possible. With families and staff working together, we can understand all aspects of care that need to be considered during and after a hospital stay.
FAQs
Anyone 16 years and older who has been a patient or family member of a patient at WVU Medicine Children’s.
WVU Medicine Children’s advisors will act as facilitators. Members should be committed to building a partnership of family advisors and staff working together to understand the needs of those they represent and to influence programs and policies that address their needs. They reflect on their personal experiences but also consider the needs of patients and families from all locations and backgrounds.
The FAC meets throughout the year from 5-7pm at the Children’s Hospital and remotely via Microsoft Teams.
The co-chairs of the council assist in making an agenda prior to the meetings depending on the topics needing discussion at that time. Co-chairs facilitate discussion on the chosen topics for that meeting with the group. The process may be adjusted for future meetings if they are not as productive as the group believes they need to be.
The co-chairs and other WVU Medicine Children’s staff assist in communicating by email and during meetings with group members to determine the progress of selected initiatives. Some process improvements and other items may take months or more to be implemented depending on the scope of the topic. The council aims to keep all members informed of updates as frequently as they are able.