Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (GVMH) and Children’s Mercy Kansas City have been recognized by the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) with the Compass Honor, an award that celebrates Missouri hospitals for outstanding efforts in partnering with patients and families to improve care.
The Compass Honor, sponsored by MHA’s Statewide Patient and Family Advisory Council, recognizes hospitals that demonstrate meaningful and effective collaboration with their Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) to strengthen communication, access and the overall patient experience.
GVMH earned the Compass Honor for the work of its Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC), which plays an integral role in organizational decision-making and improvement efforts. Established in 2016, the GVMH PFAC includes patient and employee representatives who meet monthly to provide feedback and guidance from the patient perspective.
Two PFAC passion projects were highlighted as part of the award submission. One focused on addressing social isolation and caregiver burnout among older adults. PFAC members helped guide the selection of evidence-based screening tools for inpatients age 65 and older, reviewed patient education materials and identified opportunities for community outreach. This work led to GVMH participation in health fairs, caregiver support groups and a local newspaper article focused on these risks.
A second project addressed communication with patients whose primary language is not English. Based on PFAC input, GVMH improved signage at entrance and registration areas and adjusted workflows to identify the need for interpretive services at the time appointments are scheduled. These changes allow registration to occur in a private setting and have contributed to a 350 percent increase in the use of interpretive services since 2022.
GVMH also demonstrated its commitment to patient and family engagement by including PFAC representatives in strategic planning meetings, seeking PFAC input on key strategic actions and encouraging leaders to share PFAC recommendations with staff at the department level.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City was also honored with the Compass Honor for its long-standing partnership with its Family Advisory Board, which has partnered with hospital leadership to shape policies, programs and practices rooted in patient-and family-centered care.
“This recognition reflects our belief that the best care is shaped by the people we serve,” said Ranae Walrath, Director of Social Services and PFAC Advisor at GVMH. “Our Patient and Family Advisory Committee ensures patient and family voices are heard, respected and integrated into how we improve care every day. We are proud of the meaningful impact this partnership has on the experience of those who trust us with their care.”
