Patient/Family
Financial matters
Hospital bills and health insurance matters can get complex and be time consuming. This section tells you how to pay your bills online and get in touch with Children's staff who can help walk you through the billing and insurance process.
Medical information
Children's of Minnesota provides a wide range of useful health information through Children's Physician Network (CPN). CPN, an affiliate of Children's of Minnesota, is the most complete pediatric care system in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, with over 175 primary care pediatricians and nurse practitioners and more than 500 subspecialty physicians located throughout the metropolitan area.
Primary care providers serve pediatric patients living in the Twin Cities metropolitan area through one of 42 clinic locations; specialty providers through more than 400 locations. Clinics range in size from single practitioner to those with 40 or more. Most clinics are independent, community-based practices that have come together CPN to:
- improve the health status of children and adolescents
- be able to serve patients in all health plans
- serve as a unified voice in the community regarding pediatric health care issues.
In the last several years, CPN has earned several awards in quality improvement and patient satisfaction. One award recognized the quality of care provided by CPN - Nurse Triage Service, a 24-hour answering service/triage line established for community pediatric providers and their patients. This is just one example of how working together, pediatricians can raise the standard of care in the community.
Pediatric Health Information
Information is written by pediatricians and pediatric specialists for kids, teens and parents/teachers. You will find thousands of medically reviewed articles, animations, games, worksheets, quizzes, movies and news.
All Pediatric Health Information
Mental Health
ADHD
Chronic Illness and Teenagers
Learning Disabilities
Teenage Depression: What parents can do
Family Perspectives on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Hospital amenities
Family Resource Centers
Geek Squad Precinct
Libraries for Children
Marketplace
Pharmacy
Sibling Play Areas
Welcome Centers
Star Studio
Family centered care
Patient-and Family-Centered Care is a philosophy of care that respects the pivotal role of the family as the constant in their child's life. It acknowledges that families are the experts of their children, and are the primary care givers and source of support. Patients and families are encouraged to participate as active members of the health care team.
Informed patients and families make better decisions. We strive to provide clear, honest and useful information in a respectful way to all those we care for. Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is committed to provide the best care possible, working together in the best interest of the child. This collaborative partnership is the foundation of the care we provide.
Care Communication Boards
Children's was recognized by the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety Award for the creation of its Patient-and Family-Centered Team Rounding approach for planning patients' hospital care daily from admission to discharge.
The new model supports face-to-face conversations with everyone involved in a patient's case — including the patient and family.
This rounding program emphasizes the importance of the patient and family as integral members of the care giving team. It places a priority on direct interaction time between nurses, physicians, and family members.
Family-Centered Rounding
In this model, a care team of physicians, residents, medical students, nurses and the patient/family will meet together at a scheduled time to discuss the patient, the plan of care for the day and what is needed to advance care towards discharge. Multidisciplinary team members such as interpretive services, care management or nutrition services will be included in rounds as needed. Patient/Family Centered Rounding makes the patient and the family an integral part of the care team, improves communication between the family and care team, and provides all team members with a clear plan of care.
Patient/Family Quickview
Empowering patients and legal guardians with information to support them in making informed decisions around care, is key in effectively partnering with families.
The Family Advisory Clinical Informatics designed a one-page tool called the Family/Patient QuickView. This tool that can be used by the nurse to display information for the patient and family to assure we have accurately captured the patient and family's information.
Patients and families should be accompanied by a provider, nurse, member of the healthcare team, or HIMs staff member, when reviewing information within the EMR to provide support and answer questions to assure the patient and family understand the disease process, medications, and the treatment plans.
Family Activated Rapid Response Team
All Children's employees, Children's Professional Staff, contracted staff, house staff, students, volunteers, patients, parents, families, legal guardians, and visitors have the ability to unconditionally request urgent medical assistance for a patient perceived to be in distress without the advance consultation with house staff or the patient's attending physicians if the attending physician is not physically present.
Excellence in Patient and Family Centered Care Award
At the very heart of patient-and family-centered care is the recognition that family is the constant in a child's life. With this, Children's staff understand that each family has an important place on their child's health care team.
The Excellence in Patient-and Family-Centered Care Award gives families an opportunity to recognize and honor care providers who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to patient-and family-centered care. Learn More.
Celebrating Partnerships Highlight
Family members and staff have worked collaboratively to bring about positive change in the areas of process improvement, program and policy development, care delivery and design. There are many success stories that illustrate the positive impact of involving families in the continuing effort to deliver exceptional patient-and family-centered care.This feature highlights some of the family and staff champions who have worked collaboratively.
A Resource Guide for Families from Families
This Resource Guide is intended for families with children who have special health or developmental needs or chronic illness. The Family Advisory Council prepared this guide. It contains information and resources we have found to be helpful. While we know this packet may contain only some of the information you'll need, many find it a great place to start.
