Patient Advocacy Council
What Is the Patient Advocacy Council?
The Patient Advocacy Council (PAC) was established in 2005 under the direction of Victor Dzau, MD, Duke University Health System Chancellor of Health Affairs, with the goal of advising the Duke University Health System (DUHS) in its mission to provide a system-wide environment that supports patient-centered care.
PAC members sit at the table with DUHS leadership and health care professionals to look at substantial ways for patients to work responsibly in partnership with their health care providers to enhance the overall patient experience.
So many aspects of a patient’s medical experience can be positively transformed by an environment of patient-centered care. From creating more straightforward signage, to assisting in the design of the online patient portal, the PAC is dedicated to helping create and support a patient-centered environment.
Patient Advocacy Council Mission
The practice of patient-centered care starts with a solid foundation of treating patients with dignity and respect.
It also focuses on identifying ways in which patients and their healthcare providers can increase information sharing.
Patient Advocacy Council’s mission is to provide patients’ perspectives and voices to Duke Medicine with the goal of enhancing patient-centered care; respecting the needs of the human spirit; and bringing together patients and their care givers as partners in healing, education, and research.
Organizational Structure
The Patient Advocacy Council reports to Dr. Dzau, and is a subcommittee of the DUHS Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Executive Committee. This structure integrates PAC with other system-wide Duke Medicine initiatives such as medication safety, education and culture, and performance measurement and improvement.
PAC members are volunteer community members. We meet monthly with health system leadership, and also participate in a wide variety of initiatives across the Duke University Health System.
Meet the 2011-2012 PAC volunteer members.
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