Patient Family Advisory Council

The Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Cooley Dickinson Hospital is comprised of patients and family members who have the desire to use their experience and skills to help the hospital in a number of ways, such as serving on the council or in other advisory roles. 

According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), "health care that is truly patient-centered considers patients' cultural traditions, their personal preferences and values, their family situations and their lifestyles. Patient-centered care makes the patient and their loved ones an integral part of the care team who collaborate with health care professions in making clinical decisions."

At Cooley Dickinson, patient-centered care is a philosophy of providing care that encourages partnerships between patients, families and health care providers. It also recognizes the importance of patient participation in the delivery of care at all levels of the organization, and this model emphasizes the strengths, priorities and preferences that are unique to each patient.

To learn more, contact Jennifer Higgins, PhD, Council Coordinator at (413) 582-4969 or e-mail jennifer_higgins@cooley-dickinson.org.