Patient & Family Advisors

Patient and family advisors are volunteers who partner with health care staff to help make UVM Health services more responsive to the needs of patients and families. Advisors bring patient and family perspectives to policies, programs, facility design, operations, and education, as part of our work to improve safety, delivery of care, and patient and staff satisfaction.

Patient and family advisors play an important role promoting patient- and family-centered care concepts and practices among administration, staff, health care providers, patients and families.

As a patient and family advisor, you may be asked to:

• Participate in Advisory Council meetings
• Share perspectives, experiences and advice in a variety of settings and situations
• Help create, implement and evaluate policies, programs and services
• Promote patient- and family-centered care initiatives by participating in presentations, publications and projects
• Develop and review patient-facing education materials
• Provide peer support to other patients and family members

Patients and family members of patients who have received care from the UVM Health within the last two years are eligible to apply.

The ideal patient and family advisor is:

• Open-minded and respectful of diversity and differing opinions
• A strong communicator and careful listener
• Able to see system-level issues, beyond one’s own personal experiences
• Compassionate, flexible and patient
• Able to focus on solutions rather than grievances
• Committed to the UVM Health's success

We actively partner with patients and families, institutional leaders, health care providers and staff to implement the core principles of strong patient- and family-centered care:

• Dignity and respect: Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning and delivery of care. Their perspectives and choices are listened to and honored in all phases of care.
• Information sharing: Patients and families receive timely and accurate information in order to effectively participate in their care. Health care providers communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful.
• Participation: Patients and families are encouraged and supported to participate as integral members of their health care team.
• Collaboration: Patients and families are included on an institution-wide basis. Health care leaders collaborate with patients and families in policy and program development, implementation and evaluation, health care facility design, professional education and the delivery of care.