News Release

Norton County Hospital forms Patient and Family Advisory Council, seeks applicants to serve

April 28, 2017

NORTON, Kan. – In an effort to continue improving its quality of care, Norton County Hospital is currently seeking volunteers from area communities to serve as advisors on a new Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).

According to Jamey Keen, RN and the hospital’s PFAC coordinator, the council will bring together patients and families with health care staff to discuss and provide guidance on how to improve the patient and family experience at Norton County Hospital and its clinics, Norton Medical Clinic and Logan Clinic.

“At Norton County Hospital, we realize and value the importance of engaging patients and families as members of the health care team,” Keen said. “Patients and families can offer distinct assessments about the standard of care we provide and how we might be able to improve in the future.”

Community advisors will be asked to serve on the council alongside health care staff to ensure multiple perspectives and experiences are both heard and integrated into improving the quality of care. Examples of what advisors could do include:

• Identify local patient and family health care needs.
• Provide feedback on current processes at the hospital and clinics.
• Discuss new ideas on how to improve quality of care.
• Promote awareness of opportunities and key health care resources to the community.
• Generate ideas for programs and/or education to benefit patients, family members and caregivers.
• Enhance ongoing collaboration and cooperation among health care providers, patients and families.
• Participate in the development and planning of items such as patient and family satisfaction initiatives, new facilities and facility renovation.

The advisors’ time commitment includes monthly meetings for approximately one hour. Up to 10 selected advisors will be expected to serve at least a one-year term with the opportunity to reapply to serve additional terms.

Applications can be obtained at any admissions desk at the Norton County Hospital, Norton Medical Clinic and Logan Clinic. Applications are also available online at http://www.ntcohosp.com/our_people/pfac.html. The application deadline is May 15, 2017. Following the application process, selected applicants will be interviewed by the PFAC Committee, which will make the final selection for those 10 advisor positions.

Completed applications can be sent to Keen in person at Norton County Hospital or by mail or email at the information below:

Jamey Keen, RN
Norton County Hospital
102 E. Holme
P.O. Box 250
Norton, KS 67654
jkeen@ntcohosp.com
785-877-3351

Keen is also available to answer any additional questions about Norton County Hospital’s PFAC, or you may contact the PFAC co-chair, Ward Foley, via email: ward@wardfoley.com.

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