LCMC to create patient and family member Advisory Council

Lincoln County Medical Center (LCMC) will organize a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) and seeks residents of Lincoln County to join.

Under the direction of Chief Executive Nurse at LCMC, Wendi Hulett, the council will provide an opportunity for patients and families to engage in open dialogue on how care is delivered and experienced.

“When we hear directly from patients and families, we can better respond to the needs of the people we serve,” Hulett said.

PFAC members will help develop new services and programs, solve problems, find solutions to improve the health care experience and provide answers to problems or challenges within the health care system.

Understanding the patient's needs

According to the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), Patient and Family Advisory Councils can be a powerful way to engage both the medical staff and the recipient while enhancing services.

When active engagement between a health care provider and a patient develops, “efficiency, decrease health care costs and patient satisfaction can be achieved.”

Since 2014, research and data has shown that “health care consumers are no longer interested in being passive recipients of care but, rather, want to be active participants in care decisions in partnership with care providers,” according to the AJR.

Lincoln County Medical Center's PFAC will meet monthly for two hours. Interested candidates must complete an application, which includes a background check and an interview.

“We invite community members to share their experiences at LCMC by joining the Patient and Family Advisory Council,” she said.

LCMC is one of fifteen New Mexico hospitals recognized for excellence during the 2016-2018 phase of Hospital Innovation Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN). The multi-year program “aims to ensure better care for individuals and populations throughout the state.”

LCMC awards and recognition

    2018: HIIN Award for two continual years for commitment to patient safety and quality     health care

    2017​: Five-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

    2016: Four Presbyterian Rural Hospitals Recognized as Top Performers

• Presbyterian Española Hospital named for Excellence in Financial Strength.
• Lincoln County Medical Center- Ruidoso named  for Excellence in Quality.
• Socorro General Hospital named  for Excellence in Quality and Patient Outcomes.
• Plains Regional Medical Center-Clovis named for Excellence in Financial Strength.

    2014: Recognition and named a 2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures     Recognition by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care     organizations in the United States.

More:Lincoln County Medical Center offers internships for the summer

LCMC was also recognized for its significant improvement in decreasing the number of hospital readmission and adverse drug reactions, according to Presbyterian Healthcare Services.

“Engaging families as active participants in a patient’s care has been shown to improve care coordination, improve the accuracy of health information, and increase the consistency and safety of care,” according to AJR.

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Meetings will be opened to members of the advisory council. Times, dates and place will be determined and announced after council members have been selected.

For further information on how to join, contact pfac@phs.org or Wendi Hulett at 575-257-8200.

More information about LCMC medical and support services can be found at https://lincoln-county-medical-center.phs.org/Pages/default.aspx.

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Pamela L. Bonner can be reached at 575-202-5555, Pbonner@Ruidosonews.com or at 575-257-4001 ext. 4102.