Whidbey General Hospital is seeking applicants for a new Patient Advisory Council with the aim of gathering the voice of the community on health affairs.

“We want people who have a commitment to have the best hospital it can possibly be,” said Linda Gipson, the hospital’s chief nursing officer, at Monday’s regular board meeting. “We want them to have a voice.”

Gipson said the PAC is an expansion of the hospital’s “Patients First Philosophy.”

“The focus of the patient advisory council is to assure that our policies and processes are patient friendly and result not only in a great clinical outcome, but in a great experience from the patient’s perspective,” Gipson said.

Gipson added that having patient perspective through the construction of the new wing will allow council members to assist in creating a “healing environment” that meets the needs of patients and families.

Specifically, the hospital is seeking people who have been a patient at the hospital or have had a family member treated there, according to Trish Rose, hospital spokesperson.

“We’ll ask them to submit ideas and advice about what they think makes an exceptional patient experience,” Rose said. “We will also ask their help in designing processes and procedures that are patient friendly and will contribute to a great patient experience.”

The details are still being finalized and an application deadline has not been set. But the group is expected to meet quarterly and Gipson said sub-committees may be formed to tackle specific topics or issues.

The creation of the new council comes on the heels of a divisive criminal case in which Gipson was acquitted in April of assaulting a mentally ill patient last year.

Gipson said the nursing staff has also been undergoing additional training.

New CEO Geri Forbes said Monday she was pleased to hear about efforts to create a PAC because as a public hospital, Whidbey General needs to take heed of the “voice of the customer.”

“We need people at the table who will tell us plainly and clearly what their experiences have been,” Forbes said.

Forbes said she has seen similar councils work “very well” in other hospital districts.

Those interested in serving on the new board may contact Jenny Jackson at 678-7656 or 321-7656 ext. 4001 or at jacksj@whidbeygen.org