Emphasizing the Perspective of the Family
Golisano Children's Hospital's Family Connection Program Enhances Patient Care
The Family Connection Program (FCP) at Golisano Children's Hospital, launched in 2020, has made a significant impact on family engagement and patient care. Initiated by Jennifer Johnson, the director of family and community outreach, the FCP aims to address social determinants of health, including legal needs related to income, housing, and Medicaid benefits.
Nanci Bentley, a participant in the FCP, has served on several quality assurance committees, including the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) and the adverse drug event committee. Her input has been instrumental in the development of new sensory carts for patients living with autism or who have sensory needs. These carts, which include weighted blankets, headphones, and other materials, are intended to help patients during potentially overwhelming or overstimulating experiences at the hospital.
The FCP has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more families able to participate due to the ease and convenience of virtual meetings. More than 60 families have signed up for the program since moving past the pilot phase and creating online registration in the fall of 2022.
The program has been critical in ensuring equitable care for patients of different backgrounds at GCH. It has led to the reinstatement of food benefits, the mitigation of environmental hazards in housing, and the ensuring of Medicaid home care eligibility—all crucial for maintaining children's health and well-being.
The growth of the FCP includes the expansion of buddy programs, having more parents embedded within quality improvement projects, gaining more participation from ESL families, and identifying families willing to share their stories for public relations and fundraising efforts.
GCH is looking forward to continuing to build its partnership with family advisors going forward. The FCP offers parents and caregivers the opportunity to provide input in quality improvement, buddy programs, public relations, marketing, and advancement.
According to Jan Schriefer, MBA, MSN, DrPH, the Director of the Quality and Patient Safety Program at GCH, the FCP has been critical in identifying improvement areas that the clinical teams may overlook. The program's success is seen as a template for GCH to maximize outcomes for everyone involved in the FCP moving forward.
The FCP builds upon and enhances existing initiatives such as the pediatric advisory council led by Carla LeVant. With the FCP's continued growth and development, Golisano Children's Hospital is poised to provide even better care for its patients and their families.
[1] Source: Golisano Children's Hospital website and press releases.
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