Good Samaritan Seeking Patient and Family Engagement Council Members

Good Samaritan is seeking to add new members to its Patient and Family Engagement Council (PFEC). The purpose of this council is to promote a patient and family-centered care culture while supporting the hospital’s mission, vision, and values. The PFEC will serve as a venue for patients, families, and hospital staff to work together and develop solutions that will positively influence the patient and family health care experience.

The council is made up of community members who have personally been a patient at Good Samaritan, or whose family has been a patient at Good Samaritan. These members can include residents of counties within our service area which are Knox, Daviess, Pike, Martin, Greene, Sullivan, and Gibson counties in Indiana and Crawford, Lawrence, Richland, and Wabash counties in Illinois.

Cassie Abel, Good Samaritan’s Director of Patient Experience, says the PFEC is imperative to have an open and honest line of communication between our community and organization.

“Council members are able to bring to the table concerns or questions that they have been hearing in the community, and in return those questions or concerns are answered by administration or organizational leaders,” Abel stated. “Council members also serve as brand ambassadors who take what they learn about hospital services and departments during meetings and then share that information with their family, friends and acquaintances in the community.”

The council is led by Abel and member co-chair, Becky Blagrave. Blagrave has been on the council since its inception in 2019. She says being a member of this council allows her the opportunity to know what is going on at the hospital and learn more about the innovation and advancements the hospital offers the community.

“Each month we have an educational session from a department within the hospital that I feel is very beneficial,” she stated. “I also feel like by being a part of the council, when I have people in the community bringing their concerns to me, I am able to ease some of those concerns or at least be able to direct them to the right person at the hospital.”

Abel says that many initiatives have begun at Good Samaritan due to council recommendations. Some of those include the implementation of easier wayfinding throughout the hospital campus and a community caregiver support group.

The PFEC meets at 3 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Good Samaritan. Council members may also join other select hospital committees if they choose. If you are interested in applying to become a member of the PFEC, you can find the application online at gshvin.org/pfec. If you have questions, you can contact Abel at 812-885-3327.