Patient Representation

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Patient Advisory Committee
Patient Coordinators

Patient Advisory Committee

Mission
The mission of the Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) is to assist Network 5 in promoting patient-centered quality care. It serves as the voice of the Network’s ESRD patient population, thereby expressing the concerns and needs of patients. The committee provides an opportunity to impact the quality of care in the dialysis facility.

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Purpose
The committee assists MARC in understanding the issues facing kidney patients. The committee is task-oriented and goal directed. It is not a forum in which patients can bring their personal agenda. The committee cannot be involved in lobbying or political activities due to the corporation’s taxexempt status. The tasks must reflect MARC’s mission. The committee is led under the Patient Services Coordinator and the Network’s Board of Directors.

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Activities
PAC members select two (2) topics annually on which to work, and all activities must be approved through MARC. The PAC can inform the Network of how to better educate patients and better ensure that information is provided in a patient-friendly manner to other patients. The Network’s Patient newsletter, Patient REMARCS, is another venue where PAC members can assist, by writing, researching, or offering suggestions for stories.

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Committee Membership
The 10- to 12-person committee is composed of persons receiving dialysis or who have a kidney transplant. This committee represents the Network area and various treatment modalities.

New PAC members are recruited from the Network’s facility Patient Coordinators. Current PAC members are welcome to nominate others whom they feel appropriate. The Patient Services Coordinator may also recruit from the ESRD patient community. Prospective members who are interested may submit a written statement addressing their strengths, etc. The Network staff will elect the PAC in conjunction with Board approval and input from the current PAC. Learn more about PAC membership.

Member	Term	State	Modality
Virna Elly, Chair	2007-2013	MD	Transplant formerly In-Center Hemodialysis & Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)
Melvin Bridges	2010-2013	VA	In-Center Hemodialysis formerly Transplant
John Brown	2009-2012	VA	Peritoneal Dialysis formerly In-Center Hemodialysis
Millicent Brown	2009-2012	MD	In-Center Hemodialysis formerly Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD)
Walter Burrell, Sr.	2009-2012	MD	In-Center Hemodialysis
F. Ray Hazlett	2010-2013	VA	In-Center Hemodialysis
Milton Hill	2008-2011	MD	Transplant formerly In-Center Hemodialysis & Home Hemodialysis (self-cannulation)
George Jacobs	2008-2010	MD	In-Center Hemodialysis (self-cannulation) formerly Peritoneal Dialysis
Bob Johnson	2009-2011	VA	Transplant formerly In-Center Hemodialysis
Richard Knight	2007-2013	MD	Transplant formerly In-Center Hemodialysis
Sylvania Preston	2009-2012	VA	Transplant formerly Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD)
Andrew Williams	2008-2011	MD	Home Hemodialysis (self-cannulation) formerly In-Center Hemodialysis

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Expectations
The Committee meets quarterly (face-to-face and by conference call), and members have 3-year term limits. Members are expected to attend all meetings and the annual Council Meeting. MARC makes accommodations for PAC Members to attend meetings. The Network pays all travel costs, including hotel and meals. Travel advances are available as needed. PAC members also will have a chance to learn about issues and policies that affect the ESRD community.

If you are interested in joining the PAC, download, complete, and return the PAC Recruitment Form to Renee Bova-Collis, Patient Services Coordinator for MARC.

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Patient Coordinators

Each dialysis facility in the Network is asked to name at least one (1) Patient Coordinator for the facility. With over 300 dialysis facilities in the Network, Patient Coordinators are very helpful in sharing information with their peers. Patient Coordinators help to educate other patients in their facilities about the Network and its activities, as well as serve as mentors to new patients. Please read the Patient Services brochure (PDF) to learn about patient opportunities with MARC.

Patient Coordinator	Patient Advisory Committee

Each dialysis unit (about 300 total) in the Network has one (1)	Consists of 12 patients from throughout the Network
Purpose is to educate other patients in the dialysis unit about the Network and its activities, and serve as a mentor to new patients	Purpose is to inform MARC of patient issues so MARC can provide education to ALL Network providers and patients
Receive materials from the Patient Advisory Committee and distribute them to all patients	Select two (2) topics annually on which to work with the approval of MARC
Can perform other activities listed in the Patient Services brochure (PDF)	Assist in researching and writing articles for Patient REMARCS, the patient newsletter

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