This group helps La Clinica grow and improve by offering advice on topics affecting patient care. Council members are regular people just like you who meet one evening a month for dinner and discussion. The group discusses issues with employees who are considering changesfor example, new services or hours. As patients, council members offer important information and viewpoints. Council members may discuss their own experiences with La Clinica as well.
What is the purpose of the La Clinica Patient Council? The Patient Council helps La Clinica grow and improve by offering advice on topics affecting patient care. La Clinica uses the group to incorporate patient advice in decision-making processes, offer staff the opportunity to hear what patients think, and help ensure that services really meet patient needs.
Does the council make decisions? The councils scope may include anything related to patient care, and it has an ongoing role in working with La Clinicas patient service standards. The councils role is advisory, and a staff liaison takes recommendations from meetings to La Clinica leaders who ultimately make decisions on patient care.
How many members does the group have? The council is made up of 6-10 patients. This can include as many as two patient members of La Clinicas board of directors. La Clinica appoints a staff liaison who regularly attends meetings, and other staff members may attend on a rotating basis.
What are member qualifications? Council members must be patients of a La Clinica service. They should be interested in and capable of engaging with La Clinica to improve patient care. They should be able to work within a group and be accessible by phone and email. They must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Can any patient serve? La Clinica seeks diversity in the councils membership, and in choosing members may consider age, ethnicity, gender, family structure, type of care received, length of care at La Clinica, and care location. La Clinica employees and their immediate family members and patients who are paid by La Clinica for any contract cannot serve. La Clinicas staff liaison and patient co-chair appoint new members using these criteria and input of council members about what the group is missing. La Clinica can accommodate Spanish-speaking council members.
How long is the commitment? Members serve 1-, 2-, or 3-year terms with the ability to volunteer for a longer term. As members terms near completion, La Clinicas staff liaison works with them to determine whether they want to extend their service.
When are meetings, and how long are they? The group meets once monthly for 90 minutes in the evening, with a schedule that can accommodate people who work until 5 p.m. Meetings are held at a La Clinica center.
Compensation/reimbursement: Council positions are voluntary. La Clinica provides a meal during meetings and can provide travel and/or child-care reimbursement as needed. La Clinica also offers periodic gift cards to thank council members.
Today, La Clinica offers high quality, prevention-focused services through seven neighborhood health centers, 17 school-based clinics, and a mobile health center. Our outreach programs provide a safety net for our most remote and vulnerable community members, and to help our community access care, we accept all insurance types and offer a sliding scale for low-income uninsured and underinsured patients.
Volunteers are a valuable resource for La Clinica; their energy and talents help the organization meet its commitment to providing quality health care to diverse populations. Their services support La Clinica in making the best use of its fiscal resources, and they help connect the organization to other community groups and organizations. Volunteers can also be valuable advocates for La Clinica in the community.
We have other opportunities for volunteers within our clinics as well. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please complete our volunteer questionnaireand send it by email to: employment@laclinicahealth.org, fax it to 541-494-1787, or mail it to: