Patient, Family, Caregiver Partners Advisory Committee
Your voice matters! Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team is committed to health system co-design with community members who participate in working groups, task forces and committees as partners in the co-design of the MAOHT.
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About the Patient, Family, Caregiver Partners Advisory Committee (PFCPAC)
The PFCPAC is a group of patients, family members, and caregivers who share their experiences and ideas to help improve health care and social services in Muskoka and the surrounding areas.
This advisory committee brings together individuals who have firsthand experience with the health care system to talk about what’s working well and identify opportunities for improvement. Their insights and advice help guide decisions made by the Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team (MAOHT) and its partners to make services more patient- and family-centred.
Become a Member
Do you have personal experience with the health care and social services in Muskoka or the surrounding areas? Are you passionate about helping to improve care and services for your community? Joining the PFCPAC is your chance to make a difference!
Why Join?
As a member of the PFCPAC, you’ll:
- Shape the Future of Health CareShare your experiences and ideas to improve the health care system and social services for patients, families, and caregivers.
- Make Your Voice HeardHelp decision-makers understand the needs and concerns of the community by participating in discussions that influence services across the Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team (MAOHT).
- Be Involved at Every LevelPFCPAC members participate in working groups and task forces, while the council’s co-chairs represent the group on key OHT councils and committees.
What You'll Do
- Collaborate with other members, health care providers, and community leaders.
- Provide valuable feedback on health care services and policies.
- Advocate for solutions that make care more accessible and patient focused.
Who Can Join?
We’re looking for patients, family members, and caregivers who:
- Have used health or community services in Muskoka and the surrounding areas.
- Are open to sharing their experiences and ideas.
- Want to help shape a more patient-centred health care system.
Apply Today!
Make a difference—your voice matters! Join the Muskoka Almaguin OHT PFCPAC and play an active role in improving care for everyone in our community.
PFCPAC Co-Chairs
Jim Lawrie
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1990, shortly after the birth of my third child. Since then, my lived experience navigating the health care system has helped shape my interest in accessibility, inclusion, and ensuring that the voices of patients and families are heard.
Giving back to my community has always been important to me. Before moving to Bracebridge during the pandemic in 2021, I spent a decade as Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee in Whitby. In 2023, I retired following a 37-year career in the IT sector and have continued to look for meaningful ways to stay involved in my community.
Today, I volunteer as a Master Official with the Muskoka Aquatic Club and am a member of the Auxiliary to South Muskoka Memorial Hospital. Through my involvement with the Auxiliary, I met Diane, who introduced me to the Patient, Family and Caregiver Partner Advisory Committee.
As a member of the Committee, I have the opportunity to contribute my lived experience and perspective to the work of the Muskoka and Area Ontario Health Team. I am particularly passionate about equity and inclusion and ensuring that the experiences and perspectives of all residents are considered as we work toward creating a more patient-centred health care system.
Diane Lloyd
I have always been interested in health care, so when I saw an ad in the newspaper inviting community members to “Have a Say in Health Care,” I was immediately interested. I also felt that my background and experiences aligned well with the opportunity.
I had been a patient, a caregiver for a family member, a senior with lived experience, and had spent several years serving on accessibility committees. I also brought professional experience in health care, having worked as a Pharmacy Assistant in a hospital and as a Hearing Care Counsellor with the Canadian Hearing Society.
I applied to join the Patient, Family, Caregiver Partner Advisory Committee and was pleased to be accepted. During my time on the Committee, I have had the opportunity to work alongside others within the Muskoka and Area Ontario Health Team to help bring the community perspective to a number of programs and initiatives, including the Heart Function Clinic, Hospital to Home, Surgical Transitions, the Alternate Level of Care Steering Committee, and others.
Being part of the Committee has given me an opportunity to share my experiences and contribute to conversations about health care in our community. I would certainly encourage others to consider applying and taking the opportunity to “Have Your Say” in shaping local health care.
Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Values for Ontario
The Patient Declaration of Values were first introduced in Ontario in 2011 as part of the Excellent Care for All legislation. The goal of the Patient Declaration of Values is to put patients first, clarify what we can expect from our healthcare system and identify our role within that health care system.
Read about the values important to patients, families and caregivers in a document developed by the Minister’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).
Project Opportunities
What Does the MAOHT Do?
The Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team (MAOHT) brings together health care providers, community organizations, patients, families, and caregivers to create a more connected and coordinated health care system.
Our work focuses on innovative projects that improve access to care, enhance patient and caregiver experiences, and address the unique health care needs of our community. From improving mental health support to streamlining access to primary care, each project is designed to deliver better health outcomes for everyone in the Muskoka and surrounding areas.
Explore Our Projects
Learn more about the impactful initiatives happening across the MAOHT by visiting our Projects Page.
By joining the PFCPAC, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to these initiatives, ensuring that the voices of patients, families, and caregivers remain at the heart of everything we do.
Contact
For more information about the MAOHT’s Patient, Family. Caregiver Partners Advisory Committee, please email us: