Patient & Family Advisory Councils

NMMC's Patient and Family Advisory Councils help bring the patient and family perspective into everything we do. Each council is made up of patients and family members who have received care at one of our hospitals.

The various councils include people with diverse backgrounds in an effort to fully represent the variety of health care issues, diagnoses and cultures of our patients. Each council serves as a "voice" for patients and family members who have received care at an NMMC location. Members work alongside doctors, nurses, other health care providers and administrators to:

  • Provide information about needs and concerns
  • Work with staff to make changes that impact patients and families
  • Participate in the design of patient care areas
  • Assist in the planning of new patient-related programs
  • Serve as a resource on a wide variety of issues, services and policies

New Members

NMMC is continually seeking volunteers to serve on Patient and Family Advisory Councils at its hospitals. Our goal is to recruit individuals who will bring their expertise to the councils. Meeting times vary for the various councils.

Patients or family members who receive care at NMMC hospitals who are interested in serving on one of the advisory councils are eligible to serve and are encouraged to submit a Volunteer Application.

Patient- & Family-Centered Care

Patient- and Family-Centered Care is founded on the understanding that the family plays a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of patients of all ages. In Patient- and Family-Centered Care, patients and families define their “family” and determine how they will participate in care and decision-making. The Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care has developed four concepts of Patient- and Family-Centered Care.* All of the NMMC Patient and Family Advisory Councils follow these concepts:

Dignity & Respect

Health care providers listen to and honor patient and family perspectives and choices. Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into care planning and decision-making.

Information Sharing

Health care providers communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful. Patients and families receive timely, complete, accurate information in order to effectively participate in care and decision-making.

Participation

Patients and families are encouraged and supported in participating in care and decision-making at the level they choose.

Collaboration

Patients, families and providers collaborate in policy and program development, implementation and assessment; in health care facility design; and in professional education, as well as in the delivery of care. To find out more about the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care, please visit www.ipfcc.org. *Reprinted with the permission of the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care

Councils

NMMC-Tupelo
Louis Dearman
Priscilla Eddie
Nancy Grissom
Phyllis Lendon
Judy Overall
Kim Overton
Brenda Presley
Theresa Smith
Sally Wilkerson
Gloria Williams

NMMC-Tupelo Emergency Services Department
Niki Cannon
Scotty Davis
Cody Floyd
Dr. Joseph Johnsey
Bradley Lindsey
Dorothy Scheuer
Kathy Terrell
Jessica Vaughn
Natalie Wallace
Sandy Yang

North Mississippi Medical Center-Pontotoc
Ken Butler
Ina Graham
Jack Savely
Early McKinney
Nancy Maxey
Jean Finley

North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton
Erica Adams
Jimmy Clement
David Smith
Randy Whitehead

North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka
Jan Anglin
Wanda Evans
Ken Lovelace

Patient and Family Advisory Councils are under development at all NMMC hospitals. Information on those councils' membership and meeting dates will be added on an ongoing basis.