Patient Advisory Committee (PAC)
Interested In Getting Involved? Join Our PAC!
The Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) provides an opportunity for patients, transplant recipients, and care partners to lend their perspective and assist us in the promotion of patient, family, and care partner engagement in ESRD care, as well as promoting positive relationships between patients, provider staff, ESRD stakeholders, and the Network.
To view upcoming events for patients, check out our Events calendar!
Get To Know Our PAC
The PAC has three different levels of involvement:
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- Members: PAC members are individuals that are looking to educate themselves on kidney disease and learn different ways to be a healthier patient living with ESRD. They are seeking to become more empowered by becoming an active participant with their personal care team. These individuals also want to learn more about patient advocacy and the Network quality improvement activities
- Representatives: PAC Representatives have demonstrated leadership ability at their dialysis facility and are looking to develop their advocacy skills. PAC representatives are also looking to increase their involvement with their dialysis facility and the ESRD Network. Moreover, PAC representatives speak with their ESRD peers and share their advice and experiences as well as act as the link between the ESRD community and the Network. PAC representatives also want to continue educating themselves on ESRD topics and engage in ESRD-related training.
- Advisors/ Patient Subject Matter Experts: PAC Advisors are long-term dialysis or transplant patients that have been selected by the Network because of their ferocity in the ESRD advocacy field. These individuals conduct and participate in national, regional, and community programs focusing on CKD and ESRD. These individuals also provide feedback on the effectiveness of the Network's patient-related activities and assist in the development of resources and tools that will support reaching quality improvement goals. These individuals may also act as Patient Subject Matter Experts.
Do You Want To Become A PAC Representative? Here's How!
To become a PAC Representative, you or a caregiver must be nominated by your social worker and/or a facility representative as well as complete our online peer mentor training course (within a 6 month period).
Interested In Becoming a Patient Subject Matter Expert:
After an individual (patient or caregiver) becomes a long-term PAC Facility Representative (PFR) in the PAC, these individuals may also be considered to serve as a Patient-Subject Matter Expert (PSME). PSMEs are individuals who are able to devote more time each month to be involved in planning quality improvement activities with the Network and other federal agencies participating in national conference calls. These individuals also represent the Network on National calls, CMS COR calls and facilitates resource development.
Steps to Becoming Apart of the PAC
- If you are a dialysis patient, transplant recipient, family member, or care partner and are interested in becoming a PAC member, speak with your dialysis facility social worker or contact your ESRD Network.
- Review the PAC Manual to understand which level you are interested in participating at (Member or Representative)
- Complete the PAC Application with assistance from your social worker (must have an active email address)
- Complete the Confidentiality Agreement
- Have your facility social worker fax your application to your ESRD Network
If you have questions or want to get involved, please contact the Patient Services Department for your Network:
Upcoming Meetings
Our next ESRD Network PAC meeting is TBD!
Click here to join via WebEx!
You can also join by phone:
- 1-855-797-9485
- Access code: 171 416 8689
Past Meetings
- August 2020: Presentation