Get Involved: Community Volunteers Needed to Advise Chelsea Hospital leadership

Nancy Ventimiglia is the chairperson of the Patient Experience Advisory Council at Chelsea Hospital. Originally published in the Stockbridge Community News, Nancy explains what the group does, how it has a direct impact on the care patients receive at the hospital, and more.

Q: What exactly is the Patient Experience Advisory Council?

Ventimiglia: The Patient Experience Advisory Council is a group of volunteers from Chelsea and surrounding communities who have either been a patient or have had a loved one receive care at Chelsea Hospital. We provide feedback and counsel to the hospital based off information given to us by past and present patients to ensure operations run as smoothly as possible and improvements are being made to meet the needs of the patients and their families.

Q: How does the council help make a difference at the hospital?

Ventimiglia: We provide the perspective of the patient or family on hospital materials and processes. We also connect with fellow community members and share what we are hearing with hospital leadership. This is incredibly important because each patient has their own unique experience.

Q: What are the council’s main goals and objectives?

Ventimiglia: Our goal is to provide important perspective, as patients and families, to improve what can oftentimes be a very challenging and confusing experience.

As part of this, we review patient materials to ensure they are updated, relevant and easy to understand. For example, we recently evaluated the hospital’s website and made sure it was easy to navigate and find important information. Additionally, when the urgent care opened inside the emergency department in 2022, the community provided us great feedback. We then approached the hospital with this feedback, and it was able to make easy, seamless changes to enhance the patient experience.

All in all, everything we do is aimed at directly benefitting patients and their families. We want to ensure patients and their families are heard and that their opinions and feedback are taken into great consideration when hospital leaders make important decisions that impact present and future care for the community.

Q: How has the Patient Experience Advisory Council been beneficial for you, personally?

Ventimiglia: Before I joined the group, I didn’t realize all that was going on in the community and how I could play such a significant role in creating positive change. There is a huge sense of pride when you walk into the hospital and see something you had a direct part in has changed for the better.

I have met so many kind people, including other members of the council. We all have become friends and it’s truly a warm, friendly group to be a part of.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like people to know?

Ventimiglia: We are actively seeking members to join the council! If you are passionate about our community and want to make a difference, you may be a great fit. If you are interested in joining, please reach out to our council co-leader, Lori Williams, by emailing her at lori.s.williams@trinity-health.org. We are looking forward to hearing from you!