Patient Family-Centered Care Awards, Events, and Achievements

We honor those who support patient family-centered care (PFCC) at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with awards and events. We also keep track of many PFCC achievements.

Awards

PFCC Champions

These staff members represent the PFCC core concepts and values. Patients and their caregivers nominate staff. Members of the Patient Family Advisory Council  help honor the winners.

Partner in Excellence

The annual Jim Mobley Partner in Excellence is selected from the previous PFCC Champions. The winner is honored at the PFCC Champions Event in October. The PFAC members vote to select the Partner in Excellence winner.

The winner is a staff member whose exceptional work for patient families helps support and grow the PFCC Program. They are long-term partners in promoting the PFCC core concepts.

Platinum Partners

Platinum Partner status honors PFCC volunteers for their loyal service. This is a lifetime role for these volunteers. They continue to be partners in the PFCC Program without needing to commit to a set adviser role.

Events

PFCC Champions Event

The PFCC Champions event is held every October during PFCC Awareness Month. It recognizes staff whose actions and attitudes promote and support patient family-centered care. The PFAC members help plan and host the event.

Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event

Each spring, Family, Guest and Volunteer Services hosts an event to thank volunteers from all over the hospital for their time, effort, and passion. All volunteers are invited and encouraged to attend. Many volunteers are honored for their number of hours served and their years of commitment.

Learn more about Volunteer Recognition

Achievements

We have five focus areas in the Fiscal Year 2024 to 2028 Patient Family-Centered Care Strategic Plan. Here is the progress we have made toward these focus areas so far in fiscal year 2024:

Equity and diversity

• Launched Las Voces de St. Jude, a virtual council for our Hispanic families; recruited 25 members and growing
• Completed more than 11 projects collecting diverse adviser feedback through St. Jude Voice and our three virtual councils
• Collected race and ethnicity data to serve as a baseline for our active advisers
• Enrolled 12 caregiver advisers in our pilot stipend program
• Evaluated gaps for those representing the medical clinics on the Patient Family Advisory Council; added two Hematology Clinic members
• Supported patient families with diverse mentors who:
  • Hail from different countries
  • Speak different languages
  • Represent both dads and moms
  • Have experience in bereavement and grief

Member engagement

• Established a new program structure that expands steering councils and the number of advisers who provide real-time feedback
• Created new steering council focus areas:
  • Patient Experience
  • Patient Education
  • Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Hematology Clinic
• Engaged more than 160 advisers on 8 steering councils; nearly 20 advisers serve on the Patient Family Advisory Council, our oversight board.

Caregiver support

• Created the first season of a podcast for St. Jude families:
  • Five advisers took part.
  • The podcast has been downloaded over 1,300 times and continues to grow.
  • Planning for the second season is well underway.
• Made more than 125 mentor matches
• Hosted 6 group activities, where advisers connected with patient families to offer support in outpatient and inpatient settings
• Partnered with Social Work, mentors attended 20 Caregiver Connections sessions to support families

Spreading our philosophy (within St. Jude)

• Honored 8 staff members with the prestigious Champion Award for their support of PFCC at St. Jude
• Involved advisers in 100 unique meetings, committees, or projects
• Engaged advisers in nearly 60 requests from internal staff

Learn more