The Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team (CCHOHT) recognizes that an integrated person-centred health system requires a change in how we look at health and well-being and, more importantly, the involvement and input of the people who access health and social services.  Person-centred care respects the important role of the patient, family and or caregiver in the healthcare journey and upholds their value as a partner on the healthcare team in order to achieve best possible health outcomes. 

What are some of the ways that a patient, family member or caregiver can be involved?

Partner in their own care plan or that of a family member

Co-design and delivery of health and wellness programs

System level leadership and governance

The Patient Family Advisory Committee

To ensure the voices of patients, families, and caregivers are included together with health care providers and municipal, social service, and community partners in the redesign of the healthcare system, and to help create a culture of person-centered care, CCHOHT created a Patient, Family, Caregiver Advisory Committee (PFAC). 

At CCHOHT, there is a guiding Patient, Family and Caregiver Engagement Framework [PDF] and many opportunities for patients, families and caregivers to become involved at different levels [PDF].

What is the PFAC?

The PFAC is a group of patients, family members, caregivers, and community members who bring their experiences and unique perspectives to help shape and improve the way people receive health services in the Halton Hills (Acton, Georgetown), Milton and Oakville communities. 

What is the role of the PFAC?

The role of PFAC is to ensure that unique patient, family and caregiver voices and experiences are included in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the continuum of care across CCHOHT services and responsibilities. The PFAC is committed to ensuring that the delivery of equitable, innovative, coordinated, and connected person-centred care recognizes the diversity and needs of the communities. This is achieved through meaningful and active partnership of the PFAC with CCHOHT leadership, service providers, and partners.

What does the Patient, Family, Caregiver, Advisory Committee do? 

  • Members of the PFAC are involved on various CCHOHT committees, working groups, and projects.
  • Members ensure collective learnings, and community perspectives, values, and needs are considered throughout the work of the CCHOHT and its partners.
  • Connect with community groups and other PFACs to understand and gather the feedback of the communities.
  • Members are part of leadership and governance structures. The PFAC chair sits on the Collaborative Committee as a voting member.

The work of the PFAC

Providing recommendations on access to healthcare or service delivery improvements from the patient, family, and caregiver perspective

Providing input on CCHOHT policies and standards guiding CCHOHT initiatives, particularly on patient care and on patient, family and caregiver engagement

Recommending strategies and practical ideas for improving patient care, and family and caregiver recognition and support

Working in partnership with the CCHOHT leadership, service providers, and partners

This website!

Join Us!

The PFAC is actively seeking patients, family members, caregivers, advocates, and community members.

  • If you are interested in applying to become a member of the PFAC, please apply here
  • In addition to the PFAC, there are other opportunities to provide feedback and be involved in your healthcare such as:
    • Bring your experience or perspectives to projects or initiatives that are of interest to you answer specific questions or provide insight on issues that may arise as part of a pool of community members
    • Provide ideas and advicend advice

If you would like to know more, please contact us at info@connectedcarehalton.ca 

Quotes from our PFAC members

“I joined CCHOHT as a member of the PFAC in the hopes of being able to share my caregiver voice to support the improvement of health care experiences of patients, families and caregivers in Halton. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to CCHOHT in ways that honour my voice and allow me to participate when it works for me.”

– Susan Palijan

“Recognizing the value of persons with lived experience as partners in healthcare is helping CCHOHT to design and develop an integrated healthcare system that meets the needs of our communities.” 

– Michele Sparling

Thank you to all our current and past PFAC members for their important work for the CCHOHT: Michele Sparling (Chair), Susan Palijan, Janice Baker, Andre Fredette, Jody Harbor, Nilofar Yousef, Lynn Pike, Peter and Petra Edwards, Dave Fasano, and Marshall Horner.

Do you want to learn more?

Please review the resources for patients, families and caregivers:

What is person-centred care?