CLAY CENTER — Clay County Medical Center (CCMC) is looking for members of the community interested in offering input and guidance in a new effort to improve the hospital’s operations, policies, procedures and quality efforts.

A Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is being formed, which is a part of CCMC’s ongoing patient-family engagement efforts.

PFAC will offer insights into what CCMC does well and areas where change may be needed. It could also help develop priorities and make improvements based on patient and family-identified needs and serve as a link between the hospital and the broader community. Prospective council members should be individuals within or outside of Clay County who have had experiences at CCMC or one of the clinics.

“We’re looking for volunteers who are really invested in the hospital and want to do more,” said Norah Gilbert, CCMC social services director. “People who want to know more, care more, and are willing to spread that engagement around the community. We’re looking for all backgrounds.”

The council creates an opportunity for CCMC to get a new perspective on the hospital, from people not involved in the day-to-day of the facility. The effort will be open to constructive criticism. They’ll be dealing with quality issues as well as patient experience topics, and even building-related issues.

PFAC meetings will be held on a quarterly basis and members will serve one or two year terms. PFAC will be made up of 12-15 members, with representatives from the hospital, a hospital board member and members of the community who have used the hospital’s services.

There will be an application process for members of the public interested in getting involved. PFAC members need to attend at least 75 percent of the meetings and there may be opportunities to get involved with subcommittees created by this council. Coordinators would like to get the program established by January.

If interested, please contact Norah Gilbert at 785-630-2475.