Last month we were thrilled to offer Core Competencies of Effective Partners with interpretation offered for Spanish-speaking Patient Family Advisors. Using interpretation allowed us to grow the diversity, not only in demographics but in the experiences that were shared.

One of the challenges of effective partnership with healthcare organizations in program design, is the need for patient family partners to understand the context of the project to the organization.

As things ramp up even more going into summer, we have received a lot of questions about how the PFAnetwork is funded, operated, and organized. To be clear, this community is not funded by any one entity or program. Rather it is a network convened by PFCCpartners - and we strive to preserve the space for patient/family advisory members to come together as a community.

As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, I find the racist attacks in Rochester and Laguna, and the incomprehensible attack on our children in Uvulde, to be yet another signal that not only is our mental health in crisis, but our public health and communities are under attack.

Last month I wrote about several Patient Family Partners who expressed frustration at the slow pace of change in healthcare. Understandably, Patient Family Partners have a heightened sense of urgency for improving the health system due to the lived experiences we share, and it can be discouraging to see how slowly the effects of partnership take hold. These moments are where the members of the PFAnetwork can step in… to encourage each other, to relieve burdens, and to boost each other’s energy to continue the effort.

First, let me say that I am so excited to see the new faces joining the conversation in the PFAnetwork! Welcome to all of you! Whether you are a seasoned (…and I don’t mean old) patient family advisor or totally new to partnering with health systems, you belong here and we are happy you have joined us.

In honor of Black History Month and PFCCpartners’ commitment to diversity and inclusion, we asked our Advisors to share some advice for a hospital leader interested in hosting conversations about race and health equity in their hospital.

The season of gratitude is upon us! It's easy for me to feel deep appreciation for the diverse perspectives, the bottomless support and the energy this community gives to improving the healthcare system. I'd like to acknowledge the accomplishments of all PFAnetwork members over the past year, and also to thank Rosie Bartel and Beverly Rogers for sharing their recent publications, which you can read below.

The season of gratitude is upon us! It's easy for me to feel deep appreciation for the diverse perspectives, the bottomless support and the energy this community gives to improving the healthcare system. I'd like to acknowledge the accomplishments of all PFAnetwork members over the past year, and also to thank Rosie Bartel and Beverly Rogers for sharing their recent publications, which you can read below.

The season of gratitude is upon us! It's easy for me to feel deep appreciation for the diverse perspectives, the bottomless support and the energy this community gives to improving the healthcare system. I'd like to acknowledge the accomplishments of all PFAnetwork members over the past year, and also to thank Rosie Bartel and Beverly Rogers for sharing their recent publications, which you can read below.

If you aren't familiar with PCORI, I would encourage you to take a look at their website to learn about all the ways the organization creates space for patients and families in research. You might be thinking, "What could I possibly contribute to research???” and the answer is, as with all of our patient partnership activities: your lived experience.

Thanks to all who were able to join us for the PFAnetwork Virtual Meeting last week. We had a great discussion about current compensation efforts for patient family partners.