(Horizon) April 17, 2019 - Horizon Health Network is pleased to welcome Dr. Wayne MacDonald as co-chair of Horizon's Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). The PFAC provides guidance on ways to improve patient and family centred care, and contribute to the overall quality and safety culture across Horizon.

The PFAC is comprised of nine patient experience advisors (PEAs) and Horizon staff from different corporate and clinical portfolios. MacDonald will be co-chairing the committee with Margaret Melanson, Horizon's Vice President of Quality and Patient Centred Care. 

MacDonald is a resident of Fredericton and has been a PEA with Horizon since January 2015. He is retired from the Government of New Brunswick where he held the position of Provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health.

"After retiring from a career in health care, I knew I still wanted to be involved and share my knowledge and experience," said Wayne MacDonald, the newly appointed co-chair of Horizon's Patient Family Advisory Council. "Being part of my own family's health care journey as they navigated the health care system has given me the perspective I will take to PFAC table."

MacDonald became a PEA with the goal of providing input that would assist staff to understand the value and impact of patient and family centred care. This is based on the experience he had with his aging parents through various levels of health care including hospital, community, assisted living, and palliative care.

As a PEA MacDonald has represented Horizon on the Province of NB Palliative Advisory Committee. He has also actively participated and provided consultation with several focus groups and committees. This has included addressing Horizon's food philosophy and improving patient flow at the Horizon's Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital's blood work clinic, among many others.

The PFAC was instrumental in establishing Horizon's Family Presence Policy, which eliminated traditional visiting hours from Horizon facilities, thereby allowing patients to have support and company any time of the day or night.

"Wayne MacDonald is a welcome addition as co-chair and I look forward to working alongside him," said Margaret Melanson, VP of Quality and Patient Centered Care. "The unique perspective that PFAC members bring to the table, leads to many improvements that are meaningful to patients and the overall care experience. Horizon is fortunate to have such a committed group that are helping us to embed patient and family centred care throughout our organization."

MacDonald will be replacing Penny Ericson who has served as the PFAC first co-chair since 2014.

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For more information contact:

Emely Poitras
Media Relations
1-877-499-1899
Media@HorizonNB.ca
www.HorizonNB.ca