Patient & Family Centred Care (PFCC)

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is committed to the philosophy and practice of Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC). This commitment needs to be at the heart of everything we do and serve as the foundation of our values.

Patient and Family Centred Care means healthcare is a partnership. We are partners in care and patients and families are part of the team.

Patients and families tell us that their care experience is better when we:

• Acknowledge people as experts on their own life.
• Encourage open and honest conversations.
• Support them to understand their options and make decisions about their care.
• Look for ways to improve care based on the needs of each patient.

Patient Family Partners (PFP)

Patient and Family Partners are people with a lived health care experience as a patient, a support person, and/or a client/resident, hereafter referred to as patient.

Role of Patient Family Partners (PFPs):

• Partner with staff, leadership and physicians to provide direct input into policies, programs, and practices which affect patient care and services at all levels of the organization from direct service care to the board room.
• Ensure that the diverse voice of Saskatchewan residents are heard to inform and influence the delivery of health care to improve the quality and safety of the patient experience.
• Play an important role in advancing and promoting the principles of Patient and Family Centred Care.
• PFP receive training and ongoing development and learning in collaboration with PFCC staff.
• Patient Family Partner engagement opportunities may be short or longer term commitments.
• PFPs are connected to engagement opportunities based on their interests, experience and availability.

How do Patient Family Partners help us improve?

Some ways PFPs partner with the Saskatchewan Health Authority include:

• Improve patient safety and health outcomes
• Improve process for receiving care
• Create a more positive patient and family experience
• Co-develop and review policies and programs
• Co-design health care facilities
• Improve staff satisfaction
• Teach others about Patient and Family Centred Care

Sharing your story

Patient stories help us see why quality improvement is important. They encourage us to talk about good and bad experiences to improve care. When we partner with patients and families we find out what is important to them. This helps us learn how we can improve care in a way that is patient-centered.