Patient & Family Partner Program

About Us
The Disabilities Patient and Family Advisory Council’s (PFAC) mission is to increase disability awareness and build a culture focused on disability inclusion at Stanford Health Care.

Composed of patients and Stanford Health Care staff, the Disabilities PFAC was created to highlight the experiences of patients with complex, intersecting life experiences related to disability, race, gender, sexuality, and overall diversity—perspectives that have been traditionally overlooked in medicine.

The Disabilities PFAC works to make equity actionable and health care an accessible, dignified, and equal experience for all who come to Stanford Health Care. The PFAC seeks to be the driving force behind these future conversations and projects. All are welcome to join the PFAC and contribute to projects that emphasize equity and the human experience in healthcare.

Recent Accomplishments

Disability Walk
The PFAC’s biggest accomplishment of 2024 was planning and participating in a disability walk. To make Stanford Health Care more accessible, the PFAC conducted a group walk focusing on a specific area to identify potential improvements. Considerable thought was given to what to look for and focus on during the walk.

In September, instead of the monthly Zoom meeting, the council met in person and toured the main Stanford Hospital campus. The focus was on outside services, specifically the entrance to Stanford Hospital (500 Pasteur Drive), the main visitor garage, the Emergency Department entrance, and the Blake Wilbur Building entrance.

New Hire Training
The Disabilities PFAC reviewed and discussed the training new hires at Stanford Health Care receive regarding accessibility. This initiated a conversation about the desired training for new hires concerning accessibility and disability.

Looking Ahead

Disability Walk
Review information gathered during the disability walk conducted in Fall 2024. 

• Identify at least two areas for improvement, taking into account the feasibility of requests in terms of timing and logistics. 
• Invite the relevant department to attend a PFAC meeting to discuss areas of improvement. Collaborate to develop reasonable changes and a timeframe for completion. Follow up with departments to ensure agreed-upon changes are implemented. 
• Conduct another disability walk, focusing on a different area of the organization. Once the location is determined, identify relevant departments to invite to participate in the walk.

Partnering with Stanford Health Care
Collaborate with various Stanford Health Care initiatives across the organization to increase disability awareness and accessibility inclusion. This includes, but is not limited to:

• The ADA Committee (including We Ask Because We Care Phase 3)
• MyHealth Team
• Planning Design & Construction

PFAC Makeup
Document the PFAC’s current member profile regarding disability/accessibility. Identify areas of opportunity for recruiting new members, ensuring representation of the widest range of disabilities/accessibilities.