Community Outreach: Family Advisory Council

The Family Advisory Council is a group of committed parents and Loyola health-care professionals whose focus is to promote family-centered care at the Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center.

Goals
The Family Advisory Council is:

• A supportive channel of communication between families and hospital staff
• A provider of feedback on the delivery of services for children and their families
• A place to receive family perspectives on services, programs and facilities
• A group that invests in the education of medical students, staff and faculty related to the family experience of health care, communication with families and family-centered care
• A vital link between the hospital and the community served

Accomplishments of the Family Advisory Council

• Participated in the design of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital facility
• Designed, developed and coordinated Operation Home Front
• Developed a Parent Resource Book
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• Enhanced communication between parents and health care providers
• Improved care coordination for children cared for by multiple sub-specialists
• Developed and presented at Grand Rounds for Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatric faculty and residents, an education-forum for physicians

Continuing projects of the Family Advisory Council

• Continuing management of Operation Home Front.
• Grand Rounds presentations annually.
• Development of education for health-care professionals related to communicating effectively with families.

Meetings
Meetings are held in the evenings once every other month at the hospital. The meetings include a light supper.

Membership
Parents or immediate family members of children who have experienced a hospitalization or ongoing outpatient treatment at the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital of Loyola are eligible for membership. Additionally, professional health-care providers, including physicians, nurses, social workers and administrators participate as members. Each member presents honest, constructive and creative feedback and ideas to realize the goals of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital.

Joining the Family Advisory Council
New families are vital to the success of the Family Advisory Council. Your participation is welcome. If you are interested in being a member of the Family Advisory Council, please contact us at (877) 216-KIDS and ask for extension 6-4029.