Patient Advisory Committee
The Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) of the End Stage Renal Disease
Network of New York is a statewide organization of patients or family
members who volunteer their time to represent the Network to their unit
and their unit to the Network.
This is accomplished in several ways:
- Representatives informing patients of the Network and its function.
- Representatives communicating with patients in the unit to identify
concerns, ideas for unit improvement, and potential problems with staff
or other patients.
- Facility administrative staff is asked to meet regularly with their
PAC representatives to communicate the needs of the unit and the needs
of the patients to each other and to work in a team effort to address
concerns and improve quality of care.
- Representatives can assist in the orientation of patients new to
the unit. Oftentimes, new patients are overwhelmed with information
provided by professionals, yet will understand what is being said by
another patient.
- PAC reps at some units get involved in developing social activities
to promote a sense of community in the unit. Examples would be
organizing a bus trip to a picnic or other recreational area, or,
having a group of patients volunteer to visit hospitalized patients,
or, having an annual vote among the patients for best staff person of
the year, then arranging a ceremony to acknowledge the winner.
The Organization of the Patient Advisory Committee
Membership and activities of the PAC are coordinated at the End Stage Renal Disease Network of New York offices in Lake Success.
PAC chairpersons are chronic kidney disease patients that assist
representatives in a specific region. This is accomplished by
communication through letters, regional meetings and/or personal phone
calls.
PAC representatives volunteer a minimum of 2 years of their time to
work with staff and patients in their own unit to help improve quality
of care.
PAC Recruitment Flyer (pdf)
PAC Representative Training Presentation (pdf)
For more information about the Patient Advisory Committee download the PAC Manual.
PAC Chairpersons' Goals for PAC Reps
- Educate consumers about treatment options but refrain from giving medical advice.
- Empower consumers to be involved in their healthcare emphasizing to KNOW YOUR NUMBERS!
- Promote exercise emphasizing to "check with your doctor first."
- Encourage patients to seek counsel from their social workers.
- Integrate socializing with information pertinent to dialysis and chronic renal failure.
- Organize social events to promote a sense of community.
PAC Chairpersons Goals
- Recruit PAC Chairs: There are currently 12 Chairpersons
representing 7 of the 11 regions of New York State. The goal is to
recruit two chairpersons for each region.
- Visiting units to recruit or initiate PAC representation:
Chairpersons are to initiate contact through the ESRD Network office
for the unit they would like to visit.
* "PAC Notes": Chairpersons to encourage patient representatives be
sure patients are receiving issues of "PAC Notes".
Patient Advisory Committee Chairpersons
- Albany-Utica Co-Chairs: Kathe LeBeau, Osmond Adams
- Bronx: Vivian Davis
- Brooklyn Co-Chairs: Warren Edmonds, Wendy Rivers
- Buffalo Region Co-Chairs: Shane Carmen Dietz, Frank Ireland
- Hudson Valley: Brenda & Ron Maeder
- Manhattan/Staten Island Co-Chairs: Larry Wilson; Nelson Nunez
- Nassau County: James Martinez
- Queens County Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Credle, Monica Richter
- Rochester Region: TBA
- Suffolk County: Peter Savage
- Syracuse RegionCo-Chairs: Susan Burns, Richard Atkinson
Please use the PAC Representative Information update form, to keep the Network posted of changes with your PAC representatives including telephone numbers and addresses.
How to Become a Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) Representative
Ask your social worker or nurse supervisor about becoming a PAC
representative and to contact the Network on your behalf via e-mail at info@nw2.esrd.net.
PAC Chairs Speak Newsletter
Annual IPRO ESRD Network of New York Patient Advisory Committee Recognition of Achievement Award
January, 2012 - In recognition of the achievements of our peers who are living with End Stage Kidney Disease, the Patient Advisory Committee of the IPRO ESRD Network of New York has instituted the Annual Recognition Award, to be presented at Regional Patient meetings throughout the State in 2012. In addition the certificate presented at Regional Meetings, we will feature the Awardees with a photo and a synopsis of their achievements in our network publications PAC Notes, Network Notes, PAC Chairs Speak and our website.
Printed on Monday 21st 2012f May 2012 11:04:15 PM
http://www.ipro.org/index/pac