The Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) Advisory Council

Patient & Family Advisor

I received a single lung transplant (March, 2001) and have been associated with UCH since I qualified back in 1999. Since that transforming experience, I have been looking for an outlet for the passion I feel for helping patients who are facing chronic/terminal illnesses and the cutting-edge medical care that UCH offers. The Patient/Family Centered Care Advisory Council is the very outlet I sought and I happily joined them in January of 2007. I continue to volunteer for The Donor Alliance as a speaker and I co-facilitated The Lung Transplant Support Group at UCH for six years. In my pretransplant life I was an oil and gas accounting supervisor, but please don't hold that against me.

Patient & Family Advisor

I was in business and have lived in the Denver area for 34 years. In April of 2007, I had a stroke and was taken to University of Colorado Hospital. Under the care of their outstanding stroke team, I have had a remarkable recovery. I feel very privileged to serve on this Advisory Council as a way to express my thanks to University of Colorado Hospital and to know that we have this “world class” hospital and medical school right here in Colorado.

Patient & Family Advisor

Interior Design Professional, for over thirty years, specializing in office & residential work. I became medical advocate for my husband, during spinal fusions, Parkinson's and arthritis problems. We fought many battles together in many of Denver's hospitals. I learned along the way, always looking out for the best interests of my more passive, charming husband. We had a good life during this time, not easy, but found many problems in the life and times, of patients and families. We found the best care at University of Colorado Hospital, with the doctors being the finest, most interested and caring. I fear they won't forget me either, as I battled to keep my husband by my side.

Patient & Family Advisor

I have been a caregiver to family members and have also been a patient. The majority of my career was in the health care field, working with doctors and nurses in Public Health and a major health insurance company. I firmly believe that communication and understanding between doctor, staff, patient, and family play significantly in achieving successful treatment and recovery. The Patient Family Centered Care group hopes to serve as a partner in achieving this interaction.

I am the Program Support Assistant for the Birth Center. I have been an employee at UCH for over ten years.  During my time of employment, I have also been a patient and have had the pleasure of experiencing great care at the University. I enjoy working with the patient advisors as well as helping to increase awareness about the Patient Family Centered Care Advisory Council and its efforts working with hospital processes & systems to improve patient care and increase patient and family satisfaction. 

Patient & Family Advisor

I joined the PFCC Advisory Council in January 2011. My positive experience at UCH was with my wife when she was a patient and received high-quality care from physicians and staff. I'm a retired professor of economics and finance with more than thirty years of academic and administrative experience at universities. My interests include decisions about how to generate continuous improvements in health-care services in a period of limited resources and increasing demands. The PFCC Advisory Council provides a great opportunity to interact with council members and staff who have different perspectives about improving experiences that patients and families have at UCH. I expect the PFCC Advisory Council's reviews and recommendations to continue to have positive effects on health-care services.

Nurse Manager, Neuroscience/Medicine/ Pavilion Suites

I have been a nurse manager for the past 5 years. I was honored to be asked to join the Patient Family Centered Care advisory council (PFCC) as an employee representative and fellow patient. Partnering with our patients and their loved ones only enhances the hospital experience. I truly do believe that our PFCC advisory council will help us to improve how we as health care providers deliver safe, comprehensive patient centered care.

Patient & Family Advisor

I received a heart transplant in 2006 and when I finally regained consciousness after the surgery, it was the 4th of July. So I had much to celebrate.  I had very great care from all the folks at University of Colorado Hospital, before and after the transplant. Before that time I had spent a little more than 30 years with the Army, with my last assignment being at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, at the same location as the current Anschutz Med Center.  After retiring I was part of a national fiber optic backbone build. Next I worked on a European and then a nationwide cell phone network build. After that I worked as a CEO coach and then as a consultant to Boeing on a major program for the Defense Dept. before my heart started failing. I’ve been getting better every year since my transplant and I’m happy for every day.

Patient & Family Advisor

[biography to come]

[biography to come]

RN, MPH, CPHQ, CHES; Coordinator, Patient Education

As the Coordinator for Patient Education and as a Certified Health Education Specialist, I serve as a resource to nurse educators in the hospital in the areas of health literacy and assisting in development of patient education materials. I oversee the Patient Resource Center and work with the talented group of volunteers that staff the Center. My interests are in the areas of behavior change and health literacy awareness.

Patient & Family Advisor

I have been employed in the health care field over 25 years. Ten years at Denver General Hospital and 10+ years as Research Manager with Physician’s Drug Research, South Denver Gastroenterology, and Urology Associates. Also had the opportunity to work at Pfizer Global Research and Development Headquarters in New London, Connecticut as a Project Associate.  I have been a caregiver to family members. A brother who was in an Army training accident with a below the knee amputation, tib/fib fracture, bone infection, etc. and my mother who was diagnosed over 2 years ago with moderate Alzheimer’s. The PFCC Advisory Council has been an extremely enjoyable opportunity to share my input, so hopefully patients and families will have an understanding, caring and compassionate experience while at University of Colorado Hospital.

Carl Miller, Patient & Family Advisor; Co-Chair, Patient & Family-Centered Care Advisory Council

I suffered a major heart attack on Thanksgiving Day of 2000. I was a patient in University Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit until April of 2001, when a received a heart transplant. I remained in the hospital for recovery and rehabilitation, until June of 2001, when I was released. Because of my experiences, I was asked by one of my Nurses so serve on the Council. I have been on the Council for almost 3 years, and have been Co-Chairman for just over 1 year.

Patient & Family Advisor

I am the communications manager at University of Colorado Hospital and have been a part of the UCH Care Team since 1982. Although I am a UCH employee, I represent the PFCC as a Patient & Family Advisor. I have an affinity for our patients, great respect for the UCH staff that provide them care and I am both pleased and honored to be a member of the council.

Patient & Family Advisor

I have been employed at this hospital for 18 years. I was in the staffing office for 16 years and I am now on the oncology team. I was pleased to be asked to this council as a representative of the PSCs (the patient service coordinators). I have the opportunity to greet and interact with the patients and their families on a daily basis.

I hope my input is helpful to our council.

Patient & Family Advisor

I have been with University of Colorado Hospital since December 2010 as a Patient Representative.  I have attended the PFCC meetings monthly and truly enjoy learning from the individuals on the committee.  I am inspired to contribute the feedback that I receive to the committee about the experiences that patients and their families share with me about the services they have at UCH.  I hope to have the valuable information that is shared with me make a difference in how this organization delivers its care!  I have been with UCH for only a short time but I have been impressed by all of the caring, qualified individuals that work with the patients to provide the best healthcare possible.  The organization is focused on continuous improvement and cares very much that it stays as a top-notch healthcare facility both locally and nationally!

Patient & Family Advisor

[biography to come]

Patient & Family Advisor

I am the Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist in Hematology for the Clinical Lab.  I have been an employee at UCH for about ten years.  During my time of employment, I have also been a patient and have had the pleasure of experiencing our "World Class Care."  I have a special interest for patients with chronic disease that frequent our outpatient clinics and visit our inpatient hospital.  I look forward to improving our patient’s experience, so their visit is warm and welcoming and their stay feels like a second home.

Nurse Manager, Birth Center

I am currently the nurse manager of the Birth Center. I started at UCH in 1986 as a new grad in Labor and Delivery. I got involved in Patient Family Centered Care (PFCC) in 2005 and was involved in the initial PFCC steering committee at UCH.