Rush Community Advisory Councils

The Rush Copley Patient and Family Advisory Council is composed of patients, family members, community members and hospital staff who volunteer their time to be advisors. Advisory council members serve three-year, once-renewable terms. We strengthen collaboration between patients and family members and the healthcare team with a goal of improving patient experiences. We represent a cross-section of the community served by Rush Copley Medical Center.

Our mission

The Rush Copley Patient and Family Advisory Council will ensure that the voices of patients and families are represented to help deliver the highest standards of safe, comprehensive and compassionate health care.

What are we looking for in a Patient and Family Advisory Council member?

Patients and family members of patients who were hospitalized or used outpatient services are eligible to apply for the council. We continuously strive to fully represent the community Rush Copley serves.

Why should you serve?

• You'll help others by sharing your ideas and experiences regarding Rush Copley. Your input helps us learn and improve the way we communicate and deliver personalized care.
• Your opinion matters. Council members can influence the direction of activities, services and policies at the hospital, such as new programs or facility usage. You can help shape how services and policies unfold.
• You can learn more about programs that may benefit you or your family members, and keep current on happenings and changes within the Rush Copley community.
• You'll make a difference. This is your opportunity to create positive change in the lives of individuals and their families.
• By sharing your thoughts and experiences with the hospital, you can help ensure that the decisions made by Rush Copley are informed ones.

What are the time commitments and service requirements of the advisory council?

The advisory council meets every month for approximately 90 minutes. We ask council members to make a three year commitment. For council members aged 18-25, we offer the option of a one-year term. Terms are renewable once. 

There may be other voluntary committee service options available to advisory council members.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in serving on our Patient and Family Advisory Council, please complete an application. Applications will be reviewed and candidates will be selected for an interview.

For more information, please email RCPFAC@rushcopley.com or call (630) 692-5286.

For more than a century, Rush Oak Park Hospital has been committed to improving health and wellness in the communities we serve. To expand our civic engagement and continue to foster collaboration for the purpose of improving health outcomes and advancing equity, the hospital has created the Community Engagement Council.

What is the Community Engagement Council?

The Community Engagement Council will provide feedback to Rush Oak Park and the Office of Community Health Equity and Engagement on issues of interest to the Rush Oak Park community. Topics may be introduced by Rush Oak Park staff members, as well as council members.

Membership eligibility criteria

• Members are residents and/or those who work within the Rush Oak Park service area or have previously lived in or have a special connection to the community, including Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Berwyn, Belmont Cragin and Elmwood Park, as well as the Austin, Garfield Park and Humboldt Park neighborhoods of Chicago.
• Members of the Community Engagement Council represent the general community and may come from fields such as social services organizations, advocacy, public health organizations, etc. Please note, in addition to members representing the identified constituencies above, they may or may not be Rush Oak Park patients and/or patient family members.
• Local government officials and Rush employees are ineligible to serve as council members.

Member responsibilities

Members of the Community Engagement Council will have the opportunity to do the following:

• Provide input and feedback on Rush Oak Park initiatives of interest to the community.
• Identify, review and, where appropriate, make recommendations to Rush Oak Park on priority community health issues in the hospital’s service area.
• Review and provide input to Rush Oak Park’s Community Health Needs Assessment, Community Health Implementation Plan and community benefit initiatives.
• Advocate on behalf of Rush Oak Park with key constituencies in support of the hospital's community health equity initiatives.
• Help strengthen partnerships between residents, organizations, sectors and agencies to collaborate in service of community health improvement.

Please note that the Community Engagement Council does not have decision-making authority.

Commitment requirements include the following:

• Members will serve a two-year term.
• Meetings will be held monthly for the first three to six months, then quarterly thereafter.
• Membership is on a volunteer basis — members are not paid.

Key considerations for membership selection

Members are evaluated based on complete application submission and their ability to successfully perform responsibilities outlined in the membership criteria and ensure diversity in voice, experiences, race/ethnicity, gender identity and other important qualities representing a holistic community approach.

The Member Applicant must have the following qualities:

• Understands and values the mission of Rush Oak Park community engagement efforts. 
• Is knowledgeable about the community and has a broad community perspective (versus a special interest).
• Has a comprehensive understanding and lived experience as a community member.
• Is committed to improving the health of area residents.
• Is a team player, with an optimistic/positive attitude.
• Is willing to actively contribute – committing time, energy and effort to the council.
• Is motivated to contribute to the mission, vision and goals of the council.

How to apply for membership

Interested candidates may complete an application for consideration. We will contact you by phone or email if you are selected for an interview to learn more about your interests and discuss the opportunity to become a member of the Community Engagement Council.

To participate, you must meet our volunteer requirements. If you are unable to fulfill these requirements, you will not be eligible to serve on the Community Engagement Council.

More Information

For more information about the Community Engagement Council, please contact Traci Simmons, director, community health and engagement, at traci_e_simmons@rush.edu .

No one knows your child and your child’s needs as well as you do. That’s why Rush University Children’s Hospital is committed to having parents and families play a leading role in their children’s health care.

The Family Advisory Council brings together families, clinicians and hospital employees — all with the common goal of improving the patients’ experience. This innovative partnership empowers families to have a meaningful voice in the care children receive here.

How the council works

Through quarterly meetings at Rush’s Chicago campus, the Family Advisory Council addresses issues related to pediatric care at Rush University Children’s Hospital. The council helps foster a collaborative relationship between patients, families and clinicians.

Members of the council are encouraged to provide productive and constructive feedback on the following:

• Hospital policies and programs
• Facility design
• Day-to-day interactions with clinicians

Being a member of the council

Members of the council are encouraged to do the following:

• Introduce issues that affect patients and families.
• Provide feedback and offer ideas on how to make improvements in current systems and processes, quality and collaborations between families and staff.
• Lead initiatives to help continue to assess and improve upon the experiences of patients and families.

Making a difference

Some of the council’s accomplishments include the following:

• Expanded dining menu in the pediatric inpatient units to offer more kid-friendly options, such as macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and fresh fruit.
• Extensive input in the design and layout of pediatric units and rooms.
• Updated the furniture and artwork throughout Rush University Children’s Hospital.
• Extensive participation in the development of family educational materials.

Family-centered care

Input and involvement from the Family Advisory Council is an important element in family-centered care at Rush University Children’s Hospital.

Family-centered care focuses on recognizing the vital role that families play in their loved ones’ overall health and well-being. Studies have found that family-centered care leads to better health outcomes and greater patient and family satisfaction.

How to apply

If you are interested in serving on our Family Advisory Council, please complete an application.

We will review all applications and candidates will be selected for an interview. Please contact Megan O’Connell, Family Advisory Council liaison for Rush University Children's Hospital, at megan_r_oconnell@rush.edu for more information.