Philosophy Of Family Centered Care

Family-Centered care is a philosophy that strives for optimal health care of the patient as well as the family as a whole (Kuo, Houtrow, Arango, Kuhithau, Simmons and Neff, 2011). This view of health care wasn’t always thought to be the best form of care. There was a time when parents were not allowed in the hospital wards with their children. In order to understand the historical changes that have brought us to today’s philosophy of family-centered care, we must first look at what family-centered care is and why it is important. We must then look back on the historical background of children in the hospital setting and the gradual changes that occurred over time. Finally, we will review the research on child development and the importance

al., 2011). Family-centered care focuses on four key principles; communication, collaboration, ethics and bereavement (Kuo, et., al., 2011). These key principles support the notion that the family is the constant in the patient’s life and that all members of the family are affected by the hospitalization of their loved one (Frost, Green, Gance, Cleveland, Kersten and Irby, 2010). The interdisciplinary team creates a plan of care around the needs of the whole family not just the needs of the patient (Jolley and Shields, 2009). Communication and collaboration play a major role in the plan of care for the patient. Involving the family in the care of the patient ensures better health outcomes, higher levels of patient satisfaction as well as a higher sense of security and safety (O’Malley, et. a., 2008). The family and the interdisciplinary team must work together for a common goal. The goal of both parties is the well being and quality of care for the patient (O’Malley, Brown, Krug and the Committee of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 2008; Rusher and Ware, 1998) To reach this goal the interdisciplinary team must be mindful that the family is the center of the child’s life and they must provide resources to the family as well (Rusher and Ware, 1998). (REWORK ORDER- WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT) Although it is an important part of today’s practices family-centered care

The 60’s gave way to more medical and technological advances. These advances opened up more opportunities for hospitals. The intensive care unit and the neonatal intensive care unit were created (Johnson, 1990). Hospitals were still restricting parents visiting hours and families were still not working in partnership with the interdisciplinary team during the 1960’s (Wells, 2011). However, there were advances being made to include the parents and research was being done to improve the psychological needs of children (Mikkelsen and Frederiksen, 2010). John Bowlby and James Robertson recognized the family as a whole and began to work on implementing their theory into the hospital setting in the 1960’s (Mikkelsen and Frederiksen, 2010). President John F. Kennedy also created a basis for consumer rights within the healthcare system as well as other human service systems (Johnson, 2000). The rights he outlines included; the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard (Johnson, 2000). Changing demographics also led to the need for greater familial support (Hamilton, Roach and Riley, 2003). These support systems gained momentum into the 1970’s and