Adult Patient & Family Advisory Council
Accomplishments
Since its inception, the Patient and Family Advisory Council has:
Launched a quarterly newsletter for patients, called Side by Side;
- Helped design treatment, program, and common areas throughout the Institute, including the award-winning Women's Cancers Program;
- Participated in renovations to the radiation therapy unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital;
- Launched a "Patients as Educators" program to share experiences and feelings about oncology patient/provider relationships with small groups of nurses and doctors;
- Chosen artwork for many patient-care areas;
- Advocated for increased psychosocial support services;
- Identified the need for more privacy in outpatient areas;
- Suggested ways to shorten patient waiting times;
- Addressed patient parking policies;
- Participated in policies regarding posting notices in patient areas;
- Worked with Patient Accounting to create more patient-friendly billing letters;
- Participated in planning for the Complementary Therapies Program;
- Written to congressional members for increased funding for clinical trials; and
- Served as a national model for patient-family participation in clinical-care services.
