Hospital Now Recruiting Council Members for
2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 10,
2011
Contact: Jodie Grady, Marketing Manager
978-368-3902 or jodie.grady@umassmemorial.org
CLINTON - Since its inception in March 2010, members of
Clinton Hospital's Patient Family Advisory Council have been working hard to
create a better health care experience for all members of our community. Now,
Clinton Hospital is inviting additional community members to join its team and
make a difference in 2011.
Clinton Hospital's Patient Family Advisory Council, which is comprised of
eight volunteers from surrounding towns, along with three hospital employees, is
looking to expand its membership to 12 community members by March 2011. The goal
of this committee is to improve the level of care provided at Clinton Hospital
by listening to patient and family accounts of actual experiences at the
hospital. With a focus on what works, what does not, and suggestions for
improvement, the group addresses a variety of topics from internal processes and
staff interactions, to patient and visitor comfort and education.
"Our group offers health care perspectives from a patient's point of view,
which is very different from that of hospital staff," said Ann Quill, co-chair
of the Patient Family Advisory Council. "Clinton Hospital realizes the value of
patient input. And their willingness to implement our ideas says a lot about
their commitment to the people of this community. They are eager to do whatever
it takes to make a hospital stay a little easier."
Over the past year, the Patient Family Advisory Council members shared their
personal experiences to uncover a number of small changes that they hope will
make a big difference to Clinton Hospital patients. The council tackled projects
such as expanding the hospital's cable television programming from 10 stations
to 34 in an effort to keep patients relaxed and comfortable during their stay.
The group was responsible for the creation of educational pieces that address
recurring questions raised by patients and their families, and they also
identified the need for higher-quality personal hygiene products such as soap,
razors and toothbrushes, which the hospital is currently upgrading with input
from council members. The council's most notable contribution will come to
fruition later this year when a new waiting area on the hospital's second floor
Medical/Surgical Unit will be constructed - a functional, warm and welcoming
space the hospital previously lacked.
"We are very fortunate to have such dedicated individuals serving on our
council," said Charlene Elie, RN, MSN, vice president of patient care services
and co-chair of the Patient Family Advisory Council at Clinton Hospital. "This
team has been great to work with. They take on every project with such energy
and offer excellent suggestions for improvement. We've learned a lot from them
over the past year. We are looking forward to expanding the group in the coming
year and raising the level of patient satisfaction even higher."
The Patient Family Advisory Council is seeking additional community members
who feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas about their care at the
hospital in a small group setting. Members will be asked to attend one monthly
meeting at the hospital to address issues concerning quality of care, patient
satisfaction and facility improvements. Participants must be at least 18 years
of age and have past or current experience with Clinton Hospital as a patient or
family member of a patient.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the committee, please
call Ms. Elie at 978-368-3888 for more information, or visit www.clintonhospital.org to download an
application. Applications can be mailed to: Charlene Elie, RN,
MSN, Vice President of Patient Care Services, Clinton Hospital, 201 Highland
Street, Clinton, MA 01510.