Skagit Pediatrics Family Advisory Committee

1. Skagit Pediatrics Family Advisory Committee Andrea B Smith MD PhD Skagit Pediatric Clinic in Mount Vernon

2. About Skagit Pediatrics • One of three pediatric practices in Skagit County • Ten clinicians--doubled the number of doctors in a three year period • Changed from managed care to fee for service; could no longer afford to have a dedicated triage nurse. • Moved into a new building

3. Why Skagit Pediatrics wanted a Family Advisory Committee • Inspired by presentation at Medical Home meeting two years ago • Formal way for families to contribute to the mission of the clinic • Advice for administration and medical leadership on patient needs and clinic priorities from a family perspective • Help with resource info for families

4. Where to Begin? • Developing and Sustaining a Patient and Family Advisory Council by Patty Devine Webster and Beverly H. Johnson • Kate Orville at CHDD • Brainstorming help • Sent out e-mails to find people with experience • Lynn Kratz • Discussed CHMC’s council • Helped work out details • Portland Family Advisory Council

5. Structure of Group • 10-12 parents and staff • Rotating membership with 2-3 year terms • Parents with children of various ages, special needs, former patients • Quarterly meetings • Start in the Fall

6. Enticements (if needed) • Food at each meeting • Gift certificate • Annual gift • Name on plaque

7. How to fund • Practice pays as investment into practice • Grants

8. Recruiting Members • Ran search for patients with chronic disease diagnosis. • Gave lists to all providers and had them star parents they thought would be interested and positive • Went through shortened list at an office meeting and picked 8 people to send invitations to.

9. Invitation Letter (see handouts)

10. The Results: Current Members • Pediatrician • Front office staff member with pre-school children • Lead FRC with special needs children • Public Health nurse with middle school twins • 3 Mothers of children with and without special needs

11. First Meeting • Discussed concept of Family Advisory Council • Toured clinic • Began brainstorming project ideas

12. Second Meeting • One month later - to maintain momentum • Continued to brainstorm ideas for clinic staff to review at next office meeting • Decided to start with family satisfaction survey

13. Ideas Discussed • Getting feedback from parents (survey) • Providing info for families • Patient Education TV • Bulletin Board • Web Pages • Resource Library • Ask a Pediatrician night • Supporting families • Being a parent first, enjoying your child • Transitioning of Adolescents

14. Family Satisfaction Survey (see handout)

15. Results of Questionnaire • ???

16. Next Project • Provide up-to-date resource info for families • Calendar of Events • Flyers of local agencies and support organizations • Seasonal information

17. Bulletin Boards Expensive Involve dangerous tacks Easy destroyed by ADHD patients Unable to reuse Can have tear off flyers with information families can bring home Posters in Frames Less expensive No tacks Children can’t destroy Can be reused or lent to other clinics Can’t have flyers families can take home Comparing Display Options

18. Calendar of Local Events • Poster dedicated to calendar listing community events and meetings of interest to local families • Updated every quarter

19. Resources • Poster dedicated to resources in the community and how to tap into them

20. Seasonal Info • Poster dedicated to seasonal topics • Can be saved for next year or loaned to other offices if interested

21. Other Roles for FAC • Sounding board for clinic, e.g. • Should clinic have products available for patients if we can supply them at a better price? • Would families be willing to pay for a triage call if it meant not having to come in?

22. Next Step: Recruiting New Members • Poster in Waiting Room • Notice in Parent to Parent newsletter • Develop Flyer

23. Could You Say No?

24. Thank you Jennifer Sass-Walton Cynthia Hubert Carol Hamre Barbara Davis Angelique Sharon Elliot