Patient & Family Advisory Council

1. Make a Meaningful Impact. Share your experiences as a patient, family member or caregiver to directly influence changes and help shape policies that improve patient care, safety and comfort.
2. Collaborate with Health Care Professionals. Work alongside hospital staff and administration to brainstorm ideas that lead to real improvements.
3. Enhance Patient-Centered Care. Ensure that the voices of patients and families are heard in the development of policies and strategies that prioritize patient well-being.
4. Contribute to a Positive Health Care Environment. Help create a more patient-friendly environment for everyone who seeks care at the hospital.

“One of the most interesting aspects of my tenure on the PFAC committee has been to represent PFAC on the standing hospital committee, Performance Improvement and Patient Safety. I have been called upon to present the patient/family perspective on staff and administrative discussions regarding hospital protocols.”
– Liz Loomis, PFAC Member

• Personal experience as a patient, family member or caregiver
• Commitment to improving patient care in a hospital environment
• Available for monthly meetings and occasional project work for a two-year term
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with diverse individuals
• Interest in representing diverse patient populations
• Willingness to complete training, follow hospital protocol and adhere to confidentiality agreements

“My initial interest in joining PFAC was to explore the interconnectedness of the local health care delivery system and the recipients of that care. It has become apparent that BILH does not just give lip service to that connection; all initiatives are viewed through that all-important lens. Opportunities to serve on task forces and special projects have contributed to my sense of the dynamic nature of PFAC service.”
– Kathy Skrabut, PFAC Member

The Beverly Hospital PFAC consistently makes an impact on the community we serve. Some of our notable accomplishments include:

• Quietness Task Force. In response to patient feedback on experience surveys, the hospital staff and PFAC members worked together to develop strategies for minimizing noise in patient areas to support the healing process.
• Improving Patient Safety Initiatives. We foster a culture of safety and transparency within the hospital, focusing on improving hand hygiene, reducing falls and enhancing internal communication.
• Colleague Engagement Projects. Examples include producing a patient experience video for new hires and launching the PFAC Speaker Program at CREATE sessions for over 2,000 colleagues, now called WE CARE.
• Designing Comfortable Patient Room Experience. Focused on enhancing the physical environment to promote healing by providing feedback on lighting, room layouts  and noise reduction.
• 7-day Readmittance Task Force. The hospital established a task force to reduce readmissions within seven days of discharge. Read Case Study. (link to 7-DAY case study below)
• Identifying and Reducing Bias in Care Delivery. We ensure all patients are treated fairly and respectfully, regardless of background or identity, by implementing anti-bias training and addressing care delivery complaints. 

“I was recruited to join PFAC as both a volunteer and previous patient at the hospital. I viewed it as a great opportunity to ensure that the patient’s perspective was always considered. A great phrase that relates to patient experience as a focus point is: 'No decision about me without me.' This, to me, sums up the reason to have a group of patients working with key hospital staff on the Council. We are able to give input from the patients’ viewpoint regarding future plans of the hospital, treatment protocols, new programs and initiatives, and patient comfort in treatment environments.”
– Rosemary Fournier, PFAC Member

Rosemary Fournier

Rosemary started volunteering at Beverly Hospital in 2002 in the Special Care Nursery, with a Young Moms support group and with her therapy dog. She was asked if she would consider joining PFAC when it started in 2010 and readily agreed and since has become its first patient co-chair.

Rosemary’s perspective is twofold: as a patient having had three joints replaced at Beverly Hospital; as well as a career in Occupational Therapy and in that role being a member of the Accreditation team at a State Hospital. She feels the group is really important in the cooperative work it provides with hospital staff and the volunteer advisors, and as such ensuring that the patient and family are always considered a central part of the care team.

Lynn Graziano

Lynn was invited to join PFAC IN 2016. She joined following a family member’s stay in ICU. Lynn is a retired clinical social worker, originally from St. Petersburg, Florida. Her passion is raising awareness about the importance of planning for end-of-life care. She has served as a volunteer and PFAC member with Care Dimensions, which has also given her perspective with being a PFAC member at Beverly Hospital.

Amy Katz

With a background in business development, leadership and strategic growth, Amy brings a wealth of experience to the PFAC team. As a former technology media CEO who co-founded two successful online businesses, she has a proven track record in building brands, managing customer engagement, and driving rapid revenue and profit growth. These skills, combined with extensive experience in business management and consulting, offer a unique perspective on organizational effectiveness and patient-centered strategies.

Amy has a strong understanding of operational excellence, which she now applies to the health care sector. She is passionate about helping organizations enhance communication, transparency and systems that prioritize the needs of patients and their families.

As a member of PFAC, Amy is committed to applying her business acumen and strategic thinking to help shape policies and practices that improve the patient and family experience. She also volunteers in the Beverly Hospital Emergency Department, gaining valuable insight into the hospital’s inner workings.

Zoe Larsen

Zoe has been an active member of the PFACs for Beverly, Addison Gilbert and BayRidge Hospitals since 2023. With a deep sense of gratitude for the care she has received throughout her own life, Zoe joined the PFAC to give back to the medical community and ensure that patients and families receive the best possible experience and care.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Zoe brings a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective to the committee. She is particularly passionate about advocating for the mental health needs of patients in inpatient settings, general medical floors, and emergency departments, where these needs can sometimes be overlooked. Zoe’s professional background allows her to identify opportunities for improvement in mental health care and contribute valuable insights on how to better integrate mental health support within these critical areas of care.

In her role on the PFAC, Zoe is dedicated to improving the patient and family experience by addressing mental health challenges, promoting compassionate care and fostering a holistic approach to treatment. She believes strongly in the importance of advocating for vulnerable patients and ensuring that mental health is treated with the same level of attention and respect as physical health. Through her work, Zoe strives to make a positive impact on the care provided at Beverly, Addison Gilbert and BayRidge Hospitals, working alongside fellow committee members and hospital staff to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Liz Loomis

Liz was invited to join PFAC in early 2014. There was a vacancy and Jane Karaman, a friend and Head of Volunteer Services, thought it might be a good fit. At the time, her husband had recently died after a long battle with cancer, and she had a wealth of hospital experiences Jane thought would be useful to bring to PFAC. Although Liz’s husband had not been a patient at Beverly, her experiences and perspective would be useful.

Liz was happy to join and work towards improving the patient and family experience at any hospital. Her main focus was involving family and patient more directly in their care decisions, communicating decisions to the patient and family in a more timely manner, and recognizing that the hospital was a 24/7 operation. She also believes care and decisions should not be postponed until the weekend was over and staff was back onboard. Over the years she has volunteered in many areas of the hospital and served on other hospital committees. She has also been a patient at Beverly herself. She continues to share my thoughts on the Patient/Family experience with both the Hospital and the general citizen community.

Sheila Linehan

Sheila was recruited by Liz Loomis to join the PCAC during the first year of COVID, 2020, so she has only met most of PFAC virtually!

She was interested in this committee because she has been a patient at both Beverly and Addison- Gilbert ED's, had surgery in the outpatient facility and she has providers in the BILH system.

Sheila started my career at BIDMC in the Hematology lab at the Deaconess Hospital in 1972. She was asked to be on loan to the Information Technology Department during the merger with Beth Israel in 1997 to implement a Lab Information System. After that project was completed she formally transferred to Clinical Applications and spent the rest of my career as a Clinical Analyst doing various projects implementing vendor software systems. Sheila’s special interests in PFAC are improvement of patient interfaces with technology, and reducing barriers to health care access for all.

Paul Lengieza

Paul joined PFAC in January of 2022 eager to learn about BILH as a major provider of our local health care system. Paul believes an unexpected lesson has been the meticulous attention to detail that runs throughout the Beth Israel Lahey Health, at both Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals. From signage to furnishings and from patient care to medical treatments, every detail reflects the organization's commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

Paul brings from his career as a teacher, principal and superintendent in public schools across Massachusetts, a commitment to helping others to succeed and to lead productive lives – which are values he sees permeate throughout Beverly Hospital. Paul has been gratified to get to know and to work with so many dedicated and capable professionals who treat their work as a personal calling and not just a job.

Corey McLaughlin

Corey has been a volunteer with the Connecting Young Moms program at Beverly Hospital and has wanted to take advantage of other ways to be supportive. In 2024, Liz Loomis introduced her to the PFAC, where she is now a member.

Corey has been a Therapeutic Movement teacher working with organizations that service refugee women and people struggling with substance abuse and postpartum depression. She was also a support group leader for women in transition. She began her professional career in 1983 as a behavioral therapist in a half-way house for men with developmental disabilities who were former state school residents.

Corey is interested in working with others in improving the patient experience in areas that make health care more accessible and better meet the needs of the whole person.

Kathy Skrabut

Since becoming a PFAC member in late 2022, Kathy has had the opportunity to explore the Council's wide-ranging capacity to impact patients' and families' health care experiences. Her interest in the PFAC had its origins in a rewarding nursing career that incorporated a clear understanding of the value of volunteer service.

With a doctorate in health care education, Kathy integrated rehabilitation clinical practice into her work as a professor of nursing and coordinator of the graduate nursing programs at Salem State University (SSU). Retiring as professor emerita in May 2013, she has continued to serve the university in a variety of capacities, including as the College of Arts and Sciences’ interim associate dean; Steering Committee of the "10,000 Reasons" $25 million comprehensive campaign; and chair of the SSU Foundation Board of Directors.

Beyond SSU, she holds volunteer positions at Rockport Music, the Rockport Council on Aging, and Beth Israel Lahey Health's Geriatric/NICHE Steering Committee. The high-quality health care provided by BILH at Cape Ann's Addison Gilbert Hospital further energizes her investment in the work of the PFAC.