Involvement of Family and Friends

Patients continually addressed the role of family and friends in the patient experience, and often expressed concern about the impact illness has on family and friends. Family dimensions of patient-centered care were identified as follows:

Provide accommodations for family and friends.
Involving family and close friends in decision making
Supporting family members as caregivers
Recognizing the need of family and friends

Below are some solutions to improve health services in this area.

Doctors and Nurses Acknowledged Your Experience / Suggestions in Caring for Your Child

Infant Mental Health - Getting in Early - Greater Southern Area Health Service
Development of a clear pathway for referral and defined treatment for severe mental health problems in children who had not reached school age.

Shaking Your Baby is Just Not the Deal - The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
This project developed a targeted education strategy to disseminate information about the impact of infant shaking and positive and safe strategies to respond to a crying baby.

Enough Information Given to Family and Friends

Family Involvement in Rounds - Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Families have been included in rounds at Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital. This is working well, saving nurse’s time and making patients and families happier.

Institute for Family-Centered Care - Institute for Family-Centered Care
The Institute for Family-Centered Care inspire and promotes health leaders to have a greater understanding and ability to provide patient- and family-centered care in our health service.

Parent and Carer Resource Centre - A Practical Approach to Caring for Carers - The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Describes the development of a Parent and Carer Resource Centre (the Centre), aimed at providing information, support and 'time out' for parents/carers.

Enough Time Spent with Family and Friends

Family Room - Acute Mental Health Facility - Wyong Mental Health Centre
The refurbishment of a room to create a comfortable, private space for families to visit their relative.

Institute for Family-Centered Care - Institute for Family-Centered Care
The Institute for Family-Centered Care inspire and promotes health leaders to have a greater understanding and ability to provide patient- and family-centered care in our health service.

Family and Friends Made to Feel Welcomed

Family Room - Acute Mental Health Facility - Wyong Mental Health Centre
The refurbishment of a room to create a comfortable, private space for families to visit their relative.

Parent and Carer Resource Centre - A Practical Approach to Caring for Carers - The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Describes the development of a Parent and Carer Resource Centre (the Centre), aimed at providing information, support and 'time out' for parents/carers.

Family or Friends had Enough Opportunity to be Involved in Care and Treatment

Aboriginal Child Health Check Program - Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation
This program aimed to provide comprehensive health assessments/screening of all primary school aged children in Dareton.

BreastScreen NSW Service within Northern Sydney Central Coast Health - Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service
This service maintains an ongoing consumer service program that monitors the experiences of clients who attend for screening and assessment.

CarePages - CarePages, Inc
CarePages is an online community for people facing challenging health events. It helps to keep patients and carers in contact, sharing support and information.

Connecting the Community - South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service
The Connecting the Community program aims to improve access for children living in Aboriginal communities to primary health and continuing care services.

Family Involvement in Rounds - Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Families have been included in rounds at Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital. This is working well, saving nurse’s time and making patients and families happier.

Far West Aboriginal Child Development and Well-Being Strategy - Maari Ma Health
Maari Ma Health has initiated a number of activities that bring together all the people providing services to Aboriginal children and their families.

Institute for Family-Centered Care - Institute for Family-Centered Care
The Institute for Family-Centered Care inspire and promotes health leaders to have a greater understanding and ability to provide patient- and family-centered care in our health service.

Mums and Dads with Koori bubs clinic - Southern General Practice Network
The Mums and Dads with Koori Bubs clinics have contributed to an increase in access for antenatal and postnatal care for Koori women and also for early childhood assessments.

Shake a Leg Health Promotion Program - Hunter New England Area Health Service
Shake A Leg is a schools-based health promotion program for both primary and secondary schools which is delivered to all students with an Indigenous perspective.

Family or Friends were Given Enough Information to Help with Care at Home

Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program - Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program
The ANFPP supports women pregnant with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child to improve their own health and the health of their baby. Under the ANFPP, trained nurses visit families in their own homes to help them grow a stronger family.

EDuCARE Support Service - Hunter New England Area Health Service
The EDuCARE Support Service works in active partnership with families, health professionals, service providers and the wider community to achieve an improvement in the health and wellbeing of carers.

Family Involvement in Rounds - Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Families have been included in rounds at Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital. This is working well, saving nurse’s time and making patients and families happier.

Health Care Professionals Considered Family / Living Situation in Treatment Plan

Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program - Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program
The ANFPP supports women pregnant with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child to improve their own health and the health of their baby. Under the ANFPP, trained nurses visit families in their own homes to help them grow a stronger family.

Essential Goods Acquisitions Program - Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation
A self help program that seeks to assist clients purchase essential items.

Mister Germ Hygiene and Nutrition Program - North Coast Area Health Service
The Mister Germ program aims to educate pre-primary children about health and hygiene.

Murr-roo-ma Dhun-barn 'To Make Strong' - Justice Health
The framework provides a practical, evidence-based and flexible approach to the prevention and management of chronic conditions in Aboriginal peoples who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Not Forgotten - Childrens Hospital Westmead
Sibling Camp aims to assist siblings to form ongoing relationships with other siblings, enjoy recreational activities without the burden of caring and explore sibling issues.

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The NSW Health Patient and Carer Experience team would like to add your answer to improving patient care to their collection of solutions. Contact ARCHI to find out more.