Archive for the ‘Family-Centered Care’ Category

Talking to your kids about the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, many adults and older children and teens may experience heightened emotions. We know there will be a great deal of media coverage before and on Sept. 11 this year, with pictures and video replayed over and over.

Children who were born after 2001, or were just toddlers at that time, may be frightened by the images in the media. They will not know that what they are seeing on their TV screens and hearing adults talk about happened years ago – they will likely think this is happening now.

We asked one of our Child Life Specialists for tips on talking with children about these images and the event, and for providing them with the sense of safety and trust they need.

  • Reassure them that you love them and will do all that you can to keep them safe.
  • Limit television viewing before and on Sept. 11.
  • Remind children that what they are viewing is something that happened in the past. Children as old as age 6 may believe what they’re viewing is happening right now.  They need you to assure them that the attacks are not occurring as they watch TV
  • Acknowledge their fear and take it seriously. Don’t try to talk children out of their fears – talk about them instead, clarifying misunderstandings, answering questions.
  • Understand that reactions will vary depending on age. Younger children are affected by the emotional reactions of adults as well as to visual images; older children may need to talk about what happened and how they feel about it.
  • Answer their questions directly. Don’t give more information than they are asking for, but don’t be afraid to share the truth and talk about it with them.
  • Encourage them to express their feelings – sadness for the people who were killed, worry about what may happen now, happiness about the way people have reached out to help one another, etc. Talking, writing, drawing, playing are all ways children express themselves and thus gain a sense of control in their lives.
  • Remember the value of kind and loving touch. An extra hug, kiss, shoulder rub, time on a parent’s lap or snuggling in bed or on the couch can have a big impact on a child’s sense of security
  • Again, limit the amount of news coverage and special “anniversary coverage” children watch.  Limit other violent TV shows. Protect them by watching a video, looking for a non-Sept.11 related program, or turning off the TV and playing a game, reading a book, or taking a walk or wagon ride instead

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Celebrating Partnerships: Families as Partners volunteer Janet von Gillern

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Katie Bella von Gillern was born with a left diaphragmatic hernia. Diagnosed just before her birth, she was in the right place at the right time, and received life-saving surgery at Children’s – Minneapolis shortly after she was born. Eight months later, Katie’s life was in jeopardy with an intestinal blockage and a second surgery saved her once again.

After Katie had recovered and life had calmed, Janet, Katie’s mom, had a strong yearning to give back, and thought she could offer support to other families going through a similar experience. (more…)

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What shapes the experience at Children’s

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Joy Johnson-Lind, our director of child and family services, was recently featured on the Customer Experience for Profit blog for her work in shaping the experiences our patients have.

“My team, and many teams across Children’s, involve families in nearly everything we do to make sure we get family-centered care right the first time,” Johnson-Lind said, mentioning unique services such as our on-site Geek Squad and TV studio, Star Studio, as well as the Family Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council.

Read the full interview.

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Children’s earns Patient Family Engagement Award

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

The Lean team for family-centered rounds receives the Patient and Family Engagement Award. From left back row: Renee Trier, Walid Maalouli, Patricia Santos. From left, front row: Heidi Lyons, and Bruce Fehr. Not pictured:Maran Stoderl RN, Megahn Hollenbeck RN, Micah Benson, Stan Weinberger MD, Dave Tetzlaff MD, Emily Chapman MD, Mary Erickson APRN

Families as Partners Volunteer highlighted: Heidi Lyons

Staff member and department highlighted: Bruce Fehr, MD, Lean Resource Office

Involving families in rounds and transitions in care has had a remarkable impact on safety and satisfaction for patients, families, and care providers. As a result of a recent family-centered rounding Lean project, Families have a better understanding of the plan of care and feel more confident to care for their children after discharge.

An inefficient rounding process was the main reason for the family-centered rounding Lean project. The team was led by Bruce Fehr, MD, MBA, Lean Fellow, and Heidi Lyons, a Families as Partners volunteer since 2003, and included people from a variety of departments at Children’s. The team focused on creating beneficial partnerships between health care providers, patients, and families; engaging patients and families in decision-making; and creating an environment that respects and supports the best interests of the patient.

Heidi is in a unique position to see where changes can be made at Children’s that will have a positive impact on the delivery of care through her involvement in the Families as Partners Program, and other Children’s programs. Heidi’s daughter, Olivia, was hospitalized at Children’s multiple times. Heidi has served as a family representative for numerous Rapid Process Improvement (RPI) events, served as a Family Educator within Medical Education, and has been a member of the Family Advisory Council, the PICU Experience Team, and numerous committees, including the Institutional Review Board.

Dr. Fehr actively recruited Heidi and another member of Families as Partners to be part of the Lean team. Families shared their personal experiences and provided vital information on process improvement, patient safety, and patient and family satisfaction. Family representatives are viewed as equals with the staff team members, and their involvement in Lean workshops is very beneficial.

Team receives Patient and Family Engagement Award
The Patient and Family Engagement Award was presented to the Lean process improvement team in November for their work on the family-centered rounding process.The award, presented by the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety, is an example of Children’s unique approach to involving families in the Children’s care model.

Family involvement programs at Children’s
The Families as Partners program promotes, coordinates, and supports family involvement throughout Children’s and includes opportunities for families of Children’s patients (past and present) to be involved in programs that give families the opportunity to be involved in decisions and processes for how care is given at Children’s. Staff has worked collaboratively with patients and families through these programs to provide positive change in the areas of process improvement, program and policy development, and care delivery. Programs include:

* Family-to-Family
* Family Advisory Council (FAC)
* Family Advocates
* Family Advisors
* Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

Read the press release about the Patient Family Engagement Award.

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Do Buildings Matter?

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

Dr. Phil Kibort and Children's of Minnesota

In mid-October 2010, I had the wonderful privilege and pride-inducing opportunity to give tours of our marvelous new hospital campus in Minneapolis (I look forward to doing this next year in St. Paul) to leaders from 25 other children’s hospitals, as well as the CMOs and VPMAs of local hospitals and corporations. I continue to do so with many private practice groups.

It was gratifying for someone like me who has worked on both Children’s hospital campuses since 1976, and seen the phenomenal transformation of the buildings and facilities to 21st century levels.

We now have state-of-the-art, 400-plus square-foot private patient rooms, operating rooms that look like they may even be 22nd century, a spacious emergency department designed with patient flow in mind, a cardiovascular unit with operating rooms and intensive care and med/surg beds on the same floor so a patient never has to leave that floor before going home, as well as a beautiful family resource center, sibling playroom, in-hospital Ronald McDonald House, and an Arts and Healing environment second to none.

I also know that our local friends and competitors have beautiful new facilities as well. So the thought crossed my mind; do buildings matter?

My sense is that while nice to have and important from a family standpoint, it will not be buildings only that give one institution an edge over another.
It is the same factors that have always led clinicians to send patients to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, or others. It is the basic fundamentals of what I consider to be the three A’s:

  • Availability
  • Affability
  • Ability

    Which system will be most responsive and available to referring physicians? Which system will make it easier to have access into it? Which system’s clinicians and advanced practice nurses will be most affable? Who will thank their referring physicians the most? Who will do it with a positive attitude? Who will do it with a “can do” attitude more than the others, and also important, who can do it with the greatest ability; abilities proven with outcomes. Referring physicians will continue to make decisions based upon these factors.

    There is also a value equation. Which organization gives the best quality (both clinical and functional) with the best service at the most reasonable cost, showing that they are the best steward of resources? Which organization will make it the easiest for the outside world to utilize? That’s who will continue to thrive.

    I believe Children’s will remain a dominant player in the market based upon these factors. We will continue to be the hospital where attending level staff are in-house 24/7, whether it is intensivists, neonatologists, ED physicians, or hospitalists, here to teach residents, but not depend on residents to care for patients. We will be the institution whose values of true family-centered care matches those of pediatricians and family practitioners in the communities we serve.

    Each morning I look upon our beautiful new facility and take great joy in how open and beautiful our new facilities are, and I remind myself of the lessons our parents taught us – it is not what is on the outside that counts, it’s what is on the inside that makes a difference.

    It is my desire and hope that the clinicians in the community, the metro area, and the state, know that the place to send their children when they need it is Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Not because of what’s on the outside, but rather what’s on our inside.

    Phil Kibort, MD, is Children’s vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer. Read his bio here.

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    Take it from me; tips to improve your child’s next appointment

    Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

    Tips to asking questions and getting answers

    The reality of having a child with chronic health care needs is that clinic appointments are a frequent event. One year I counted them all and from January to July we had 60 appointments alone.

    I had to figure out how to make the best out of our appointment time.

    For example, to get us in the right mindset, my son and I have a fun routine on the way to the clinic of listening to a tune by Elmo that goes “You have to be patient to be a patient.” This helps us both, but there are some other things that we could do as well.

    So I’ve compiled a short list of tips that have helped me, and will hopefully help you get the most out of your next clinic visit with your child.

    These ideas come from a lot of personal experience doing things the wrong way, leaving me frustrated, wondering what the doctor said, trying to recall when I am suppose to come back for a follow-up, and remembering that good question I wanted to ask heading home well after my visit, etc … you get the idea.

    1. Why are you there? This is important because it may determine how much time you have with the doctor. If it is a physical or well child check up you have about 15 minutes. If a sick child visit probably less time.
    2. How do we use this short amount of time wisely? Bring a list of questions and the first one should be the most pressing issue you have. This I learned after having a terrible time getting out the door, running late stuck in traffic, can’t find parking, or need a quick diaper change in the back seat, and then completely forgetting every question I had when the doctor arrives.
    3. Take notes if possible or ask the doctor to write things down, draw pictures, or what ever you prefer. Same list of troubles as #2 above happen when leaving and inevitably you cannot remember anything you talked about. You can also ask them to mail you a copy of the office visit notes. If you learn better visually tell the clinician that. If you don’t, save them the trouble of having to be a brilliant physician and an artist.
    4. Don’t forget prescriptions. If you need refills this is done more easily in person then tracking them down over the phone.
    5. Bring help. If you are able, have someone with you to care for your child while you are talking with the doctor. This can be very helpful.
    6. Get to know how the clinic operates. Surprises are not fun during after-hour emergencies. Educate yourself on what the after-hours procedures are, and what happens if your child ends up hospitalized or in the emergency department, or if your primary doctor is on vacation? I have learned that “call us if you need anything” is not as easy as it sounds.

    As I also have said before, having your own personal health record is a great way to keep everything organized. I prefer an online version with the Children’s Medical Organizer, that I can then print out if needed.

    Please add to this list. What tips have you learned coming to clinic appointments?

     
    Melissa Winger

    		 Melissa Winger is a Children’s of Minnesota employee and long-time member (and former chair) of Children’s Family Advisory Council. Read more about Melissa in her first post to the Kids’ Health blog.

    Posted in Family Advisory Council, Family-Centered Care | No Comments »