Our Mission

The Family Advisory Council (FAC) provides a collaborative partnership for families and Primary Children’s Hospital staff and administration to promote the delivery of patient and family centered healthcare. Primary Children’s Hospital focuses on ensuring that patients and families are at the center of every decision that affects safety, quality of care and patient experience. 

Who We Are

Family council members are parents and family members who care for children who have been patients (either inpatient or outpatient) at the hospital. Staff council members include the physicians, administration, hospital leadership and staff. The council members represent cultural and geographic diversity. The FAC is a formal group that meets regularly for active collaboration between clinicians, hospital staff, and patients and family members on policy and program decisions. Primary Children’s Hospital focuses on ensuring that patients and families are at the center of every decision that affects safety, quality of care or patient experience.

What We Do

The FAC, families and staff work collaboratively to identify topics, provide feedback, and address new emerging needs within the hospital. Solutions are developed collaboratively by families and staff with guidance from the overall Primary Children's Hospital vision. The FAC strives to be solution focused. Family members offer insight based on experiences while the staff provides insight from their professional background, while Primary Children's Administration determines what resources may be allocated to the solutions so that results can be achieved.

The FAC families share their stories, provide input on hospital initiatives and new policies and procedures, provide family representation on board of trustees and hospital committees, and give feedback on focus groups.

Testimonials

"Serving on the FAC is extremely rewarding.  The comradery between the parents and staff members who serve on the FAC is irreplaceable.  I have gained a deeper appreciation for Primary Children's and all of the many layers that make up this wonderful institution.  But most importantly, being able to provide the invaluable lived experience that we have gone through as a family to help improve the projects we are asked to collaborate on as parents on the FAC has given me a great sense of purpose as a mom of a chronically ill child."

-Stacy Allen, FAC Parent

"Primary Children’s Hospital has become our home away from home. During the early stages of my daughter’s life, I was in survival mode and received an abundance of help from the caregivers at the hospital. When my daughter became stable and I was ready to give back, I knew my “second” home is where I wanted to serve. Being on the FAC has given me opportunities I would not have otherwise had. I have loved getting to know the staff, making new friendships, and helping the hospital improve its processes. I appreciate the transparency and knowledge that I continue to obtain. Having a voice as a parent on the FAC and learning from the caregivers on the FAC-is priceless."

-Tammy Alsup, FAC Parent

“The FAC is a unique collaboration between parents and staff to improve and enrich patients and family experiences while at Primary Children’s Hospital.  I am grateful to have a place I can share my thoughts, provide mentorship to other families, and give feedback.  For me, being on the FAC helps me find meaning and purpose after all the health challenges my children have been through."

-Marin Bywater, FAC Parent

“I’m proud to be a part of the Family Advisory Council where families, hospital caregivers and staff work together to create not only a better patient experience, but also boost family-centered care. I thoroughly enjoy being able to lend my voice and experiences to improve the patient experience for others who visit Primary Children’s Hospital. Being a member of the council has been extremely rewarding, and has given me a way to give back to an institution that is largely responsible for my child’s healthy future.”

-Micki Ahrens, FAC Parent

Expectations

  • FAC Parent members must participate in monthly meetings. They will also have the opportunity to serve on hospital committees.
  • Collaborate and communicate with individuals whose backgrounds and experiences may be different from their own.
  • Respect others with different points of views.
  • Look beyond their own personal experience and be the voice for all PCH families.

How to Join

You are eligible to join the Family Advisory Council if you have a child who has received care at Primary Children's Hospital. The council meets monthly. We recruit new FAC parent members in the Fall. 

If you are interested in joining the Family Advisory Council, please contact the FAC Coordinator at 801-662-3795, or fill out the form here.