A Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC) partners patients and families with members of the healthcare team to provide guidance on how to improve the patient and family experience. As part of this PFAC process, patients and families are invited to serve on hospital committees to ensure that the consumer’s point of view, perspective, and experience are not only heard, but also integrated into the service and quality improvements that are engineered to ensure high-quality, customer-centered care. Through their unique perspectives, they give input on issues that impact care, ensuring that the next patient or family member’s journey is easier.

• Enhance the patient centered care environment at the hospital
• Provides collaboration between providers, patients and caregivers for better management of chronic conditions and improved adherence to treatment regimens.
• Service care coordination that meets the consumer needs and priorities
• Provides a learning environment to understand the challenges of the healthcare environment

Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC) helps promote patient and family centered values, activities and policies throughout St. Anthony Summit Hospital as a council member.

• Current or former patients, family members or primary caregivers of a current or former patient
• Hospital associates
• People who are enthusiastic about the health care system’s mission of excellence, quality, safety,  community focus and customer satisfaction
• People who have a desire to make a positive difference for other patients and families

A traumatic brain injury can be any type of damage to the brain resulting from a traumatic event such as impacting the head while skiing or bicycling. However, many brain injuries occur from infection, tumors, toxins, lack of oxygen, or stroke (BIAC, 2014). A concussion is a term used to commonly describe a mild TBI. A person does not need to lose consciousness to sustain a concussion and can still occur while wearing a helmet. A concussion is a clinical diagnosis made by a licensed medical professional after a careful evaluation of the injured individual. A concussion cannot be viewed on a CAT scan or MRI.

TBIs and concussions can present differently in different people and the severity of the symptoms or outcome cannot be determined at the time of injury. Common symptoms following a concussion can range from mild to severe and often involve: confusion, memory loss, nausea or vomiting, headache, balance or vision problems and extreme emotional reactions (McAvoy, 2011). However, most concussions resolve successfully if managed well within the first few weeks after an injury (McAvoy, 2011). A brain-injured person needs time to rest, both physically and cognitively, and should avoid activities that may increase the chances for further injury to the brain. If you, or someone you know, have sustained an impact or jolt to the head you should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Often a person may be unaware they have even sustained a concussion. If you are experiencing continued or worsening symptoms after an injury or accident such as headache, dizziness, balance or vision problems, fatigue, sadness, irritability or trouble concentrating you may have a concussion and be experiencing what is called Post-Concussion Syndrome.

There is help available and St. Anthony Summit Hospital can assist individuals find the treatment and care they need to recover and heal from a traumatic brain injury or concussion. The St. Anthony Summit Hospital TBI program is supported by a Nurse Navigator experienced in working with individuals who have sustained a TBI and is familiar with the resources available both locally and state-wide to help those affected by a brain injury. The Nurse Navigator can consult with individuals and families to create an individualized plan for recovery. Additionally, the TBI program hosts two monthly support group meetings and offers multiple community events and educational presentations to promote TBI awareness, prevention, and treatment in Summit County.