Patient and Family Advisory Councils
Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) help health care organizations better meet the needs of its patients by tapping the expertise of people with lived experience. Massachusetts passed a law in 2008 requiring all acute and rehabilitation hospitals in the state to establish a PFAC. This legislation remains the only one of its kind in the country.
The Betsy Lehman Center serves as a central hub for information about PFACs. It collects and shares data, hosts regular forums, and disseminates best practices to PFAC members across the state. The Center also offers coaching, technical assistance and opportunities for networking and mentoring between interested PFACs.
Drop-in sessions for PFAC leaders
12:00 - 1:00 PM on the second Tuesday of each month
Virtual
Read the 2025 Statewide Report
This year, the Betsy Lehman Center developed a new annual reporting form to gather data about PFACs that hadn’t previously been collected. The responses were used to produce the Center’s first annual statewide report, with information about PFAC demographics, common challenges, accomplishments and more.
To see the data from individual hospital PFACs, view current and past submitted report forms.
Resources
Email updates
Get information about upcoming events, new resources, and other PFAC news.
Resource toolkit
Access a database of tools and resources to help PFACs succeed.
Forums
View videos, slides and other materials from PFAC forums.
Including the patient voice
A guide to engaging the public in programs and policy development.
