Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and Patient and Family Centred Care

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) philosophy to promote patient and family centred care is demonstrated through its commitment to engage and support the learning of its employees and volunteers. In November 2011, Kathy-Lynn Stennett, Professional Practice Nurse for Emergency and Mental Health and Addiction Programs, and Maureen Coleman, Patient and Family Advisor, were selected to attend an extensive training seminar focusing on Hospitals and Communities Moving Forward with Patient and Family Centred Care. This week’s blog, co-authored by them, summarizes their learning experience.

The purpose of the seminar was to provide comprehensive and practical sessions for administrative leaders, patient advisors, and, medical and support staff to become effective change agents in the healthcare organizations they represent. With more than 400 people in attendance, from 115 organizations across the United States and Canada, presenters explained how involving patients and families in healthcare has evolved. It has extended beyond the bricks and mortar of hospitals into research and evaluation initiatives, partnerships with community stakeholders, peer support programs, and even coordinated primary care in home settings.. According to Bev Johnson, President/CEO of the Institute for Patient and Family Centred Care, the opportunities to advance and practice patient and family centred care are unlimited. Adopting this philosophy of care is a powerful transformational business tool that positively impacts an organization`s finance, quality, safety, satisfaction and market share when it is implemented carefully and thoughtfully throughout the healthcare setting.

Highlights of the seminar were the patient and family stories shared by panel members and a tour of the American Family Children’s Hospital. The patient and family stories were poignant, painful and told with great honesty and passion. These panel members shared their stories and explained how their experiences have been the catalysts for change to improve patient and family experiences. The tour provided participants with a renewed appreciation and awareness for planning and design of care environments. It also highlighted the importance of engaging and empowering patients and their families aspartners in their care.

The training seminar was of great benefit because of the knowledge, content and practical application shared among participants. Patient and family centred care is about “doing with” patients and their families, not “doing for” or “doing to”. The commitment and enthusiasm shared by all presenters and participants toward this culture change was priceless. We learned to be effective healthcare providers, we must embrace this concept of care to improve quality, safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes. Enhancing patient and family experiences benefits everyone!