Indiana Hospital Launches Patient-Led Care Council

A hospital in southern Indiana is doing something revolutionary: actually asking patients what they need.

Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes just launched its first Patient Family Advisory Council, inviting everyday people to help shape how healthcare gets delivered. Patients, family members, and community representatives can now apply to join the team that will work directly with hospital leadership.

The council isn't just for show. Members will tackle real challenges like improving patient satisfaction, identifying safety gaps, and making care more accessible to everyone who walks through the doors.

This approach flips traditional healthcare on its head. Instead of administrators making decisions behind closed doors, the people who actually use the hospital get a voice in how it runs.

Why This Inspires

Healthcare can feel impersonal and overwhelming, especially when you're sick or caring for a loved one. This council recognizes that patients and families aren't just recipients of care but experts in their own experience.

When hospitals listen to the people they serve, everyone wins. Patients feel heard and respected. Doctors and nurses get insights they might miss from their side of the stethoscope. And the whole community benefits from safer, more compassionate care.

Good Samaritan is betting that the best way to improve healthcare is to include the humans at the heart of it. That means a parent who spent weeks in the pediatric ward might help redesign visiting policies. A senior citizen could flag confusing signage that makes the hospital hard to navigate.

The council will serve as a direct pipeline between patients and the people making decisions about everything from wait times to treatment options. It's collaborative healthcare at its finest.

Community members interested in joining can visit the hospital's website at gshvin.org/pfac to learn more and apply.

When hospitals treat patients as partners instead of just customers, healing becomes a team effort.