Patient and Family Advisor volunteers wanted at Naval Hospital Bremerton

Photo By Douglas Stutz | Help set the course…a compass isn’t required, but a little council might indeed prove beneficial. With more eligible beneficiaries being vaccinated, Naval Hospital Bremerton is now looking for volunteers to become patient and family advisors for the newly organized Patient and Family Partnership Council (PFPC). The PFPC is specifically designed to help address, advice, and improve on the quality of patient-centered care for all patients and family members. Those interested can contact NHB via phone, 360-475-4408 or via email at: [e-mail] (Official Navy photo by Douglas H Stutz, NHB/NMRTC Bremerton public affairs officer)  

BREMERTON, WA, UNITED STATES

06.08.2021

Story by Douglas Stutz    

Naval Hospital Bremerton/Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bremerton

‘Speak up! Your voice matters!’

With more eligible beneficiaries being vaccinated, Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) is now looking for volunteers to become patient and family advisors for the newly organized Patient and Family Partnership Council (PFPC).

The PFPC is specifically designed to help address, advise, and improve on the quality of patient-centered care for all patients and family members.

According to Capt. Ben Schwartz, NHB Chief Experience Officer, the PFPC will provide information, advice, and recommendations to leadership regarding issues related to access, care quality, administrative activities, and the patient and family experience of care. PFPC volunteer members will team up with designated staff members to promote patient and family-centered care and engagement.

“For non-staff council members, we’re looking to recruit a few active duty members, several active duty family members, and approximately two retirees. We also seek recruitment of NHB staff members to be part of the PFPC from key areas related to patient and family experience, such as a representative from primary care, specialty care, pharmacy, patient advocacy, patient administration, and facilities, to name a few,” said Schwartz, adding that there will be an inaugural meeting forthcoming, with the actual date and time still to be determined.

Once finalized, updated information will be immediately shared.

After being postponed for over a year due to the pandemic, the PFPC is being implemented during a transformational time at NHB. The military treatment facility, along with branch health clinics on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Naval Station Everett and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, began the transfer of administration and management oversight to the Defense Health Agency (DHA) in 2019, but the transfer was paused until conditions improved and the health protection posture was relaxed in the region.

PFPC members can assist by raising questions and sharing any concern during this transition and period of change, and by providing a voice that represents other patients and family members who receive care at NHB and the branch health clinics.

“The council members will partner with us as administrators, and our providers, nurses, and (hospital) corpsmen to help improve upon the quality of care for all,” stressed Schwartz, noting that a council member is also someone who will give feedback to the medical staff based on his or her experience as a patient or family member; and help plan improvements in patient-care.

There will be discussion groups and there will be short-term projects, and requests for assistance in creating health information material such as discharge instructions, informational handouts, and Other Health Insurance forms.

There are no special qualifications needed to be a council member. If an eligible beneficiary has received care at NHB or one of the branch health clinics in the last five years they can apply to serve on the council.

“What’s important is a patient’s experience and their willingness to provide candid – the good with the bad - feedback on how we can improve upon their experience or that of a family member,” Schwartz said.

Those interested can contact NHB via phone, 360-475-4408 or via email at: [e-mail]

Additionally during this time, Navy Medicine has also established a co-located Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) at NHB. Navy Medicine, through the NMRTC, retains command and control of the uniformed medical force, and maintains responsibility and authority for operational readiness. This includes the medical readiness of Sailors and Marines, as well as the clinical readiness of the medical force. Capt. Shannon J. Johnson, NHB commanding officer. Johnson will serve as both the MTF director under the DHA, and the NMRTC commanding officer under Navy Medicine.

“We remain committed to providing safe, patient-centered care during this realignment. Our mission remains the same, which is keeping Sailors, Marines and their families healthy, ready and on the job,” stated Johnson.

• Date Taken: 06.08.2021
• Date Posted: 06.08.2021 10:36
• Story ID: 398390
• Location: BREMERTON, WA, US