DOHA: 24 September: The community-based Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Enaya and Daam Specialized Care Center of Hamad Medical Corporation continues to pioneer new approaches to person-centered care.
The PFAC is a group of current and former patients, family members, and caregivers that works together to advance person-centric best practices at a hospital or healthcare organization. Volunteer patients and families collaborate with employees (clinical, administrative, and support) to provide guidance on how to improve patient and family experiences. HMC has 120 PFAC members across its hospital and facility network.
Dr. Hanadi Khamis Al Hamad, Deputy Chief for Long Term Care, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care, and Medical Director of Rumailah Hospital and Qatar Rehabilitation Institute said many real improvements had been made as a direct result of consultation with the PFAC,
“Since being established in 2020 as part of Enaya and Daam Specialized Care Center’s Person-Centered Care Certification, the PFAC has played an integral role in helping us to improve care for our patients,” Dr. Al Hamad said.
“Members of the PFAC are actively engaged with the community to enhance the patient and family experience by ensuring that patients receive care that is compassionate, respectful, and tailored to their needs. The PFAC in the Enaya Specialized Care Center works in collaboration with clinical and administrative staff in the facility.
Dr. Al Hamad said that PFAC members are very open to sharing their perspectives on how to improve our services and initiate actions within the context of a person-centered approach to the delivery of care.
“By valuing the insights of patients, families, and caregivers, we are working to shape a healthcare system that truly places patients at the center of their care journey, creating a lasting impact on their well-being,” she said.
The PFAC, which is a mix of community members and patient’s families, has embraced the following innovations and improvements by Enaya and Daam Specialized Care Center over the past two years:
- Improved Environment of Care at Enaya and Daam Buildings, Co-Designed with PFAC Members: Upgrades include a refurbished therapy room, patient-friendly floor, ergonomic furniture, shaded garden, enhanced gym, new dental assessment room, and private patient and family room.
- Enhanced Communication with patients and families using Bedside Whiteboards: The whiteboard, which acts as a communication tool, was upgraded for better communication, including translation into Arabic and its component enhancements to better reflect patient wishes.
- Clinical Project on Pressure Injury Prevention: This innovative project aimed to reduce pressure injuries to zero incidents through training and collaboration with patients’ caregivers.
- Monthly Patient Activities: PFAC members actively participated in the design and delivery of monthly activities at Enaya to enhance patient well-being.
The Chief of Patient Experience and Director of Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute, Mr. Nasser Al Naimi, said that by embracing person-centered care principles, Enaya and Daam ensure that patients feel heard, respected, and actively involved in their care.
“These are great examples of the real and lasting changes an active PFAC can make to the delivery of person-centered care. Their contributions are at the heart of person-centered care, ensuring that the patients’ voices are heard. said Mr. Al Naimi.
“I urge anyone – current and former patients, their families and members of the community – to consider joining our PFACs across HMC.”
For more information on becoming a PFAC member, interested participants could send an email to PersonCenteredCare@hamad.qa.
