I'm a Neonatologist (from Argentina) working in the NICU, as well as co-chair of the CPQI and member of trigger tool committee, looking for adverse events.  I was interested in bringing initiatives and and issues to discuss with FACT members and provide a link with current practices in order to have the best input and approach from the committee and parents.  Working to find the most appropriate ways and place to work together, for the babies and their best quality of care.

What is the one thing you would like network members to know about you?

To bring my knowledge and experience to work and care of the babies and families as well as to learn from FACT different views, perception and values from the babies families.   Being part of FACT I found a different valuable perspective for care, that some times in our regular clinical work we are not able to appreciate and take care of many other aspects from the families' perception, allowing to be more sensitive, compassionate and careful in our work as a physician. I'm proud and happy to be part of FACT , trying to achieve the goals for family centred care, valuing the  family voice,  attend different needs which are sometimes hidden or disregarded. 

 

What is something the NICU FACT has done (past or present) that you are excited about?

There are quite a few, however one of the most important for me, was the initiative to create FACT. Thanks to all the people who dedicated the work to make it possible.  Also, how FACT has been working and growing, with new challenges, ideas, creating a framework to involve more families and staff from different areas of NICU, each of one as a valuable input tool, to develop strategies and ideas to work on.

The volunteer time and work that FACT has is admirable, members with a deep serious compromise to make this group a very strong organization to achieve important changes. 

Happy New Year!  And welcome to the first Primer for Family Centred Care at the Stollery Children's Hospital for 2013 and its brand new look!  We hope you enjoy the new format and find it easier to read. Please feel free to forward the FCC primers to anyone you feel would want to keep updated on FCC initiatives at the Stollery!  We welcome your feedback on the new look primer!

Members of the NICU Family Advisory Care Team and the Family Centred Care Council, along with their families, braved the frigid temperatures to ride their toboggans down the hill at the annual holiday mixer on Sunday, January 19th.  Well, not everyone took to the slopes, exactly, but we did all enjoy the pot-luck dinner and hot chocolate!  The children enjoyed games and crafts (generously donated by Dianne Tuterra and Child Life!) while we all took the opportunity to socialize and learn more about what inspires each of us to promote Family Centred Care.  Thanks to Lynnet Kane and Heather Mattson McCrady for all of your work in organizing this year's event!

The movement of Family Centred Care at the Stollery took another giant leap forward as we took the message to 20 Pediatric Residents during their weekly Academic Half Day on Wednesday, January 16th. Heather Mattson McCrady shared the results of our recent Literature review illustrating the benefits to physicians and their teams of creating an FCC environment.  Family member, Karen Klak, along with Marcel Panas, through their personal stories, shared the value of such an environment to patients and their families.  The session concluded with a meaningful and candid conversation about the benefits and overcoming the challenges of engaging families in the care of their children. Thank you to the Pediatric Resident's program for including FCC in the education of our future Pediatricians and for the Residents themselves for their attention and participation in Family Centred Care! (A special thanks to family member, Christie Oswald, for your help in putting this presentation together!) 

In what is believed to be a first in Canada, "real" NICU families joined Neonatologists in evaluating Fellows as they prepared for their Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) - the final step in becoming a Neonatologist.  The OSCE takes the Fellow through a series of scenarios, some of which include challenging conversations with families.  The timed sessions allows three minutes for the Fellow to prepare for the 12 minute session then they immediately rotate to the next station to repeat the process with a different scenario.  The observer and family member each evaluates their performance and shares this feedback after all stations have been completed.  Family member and NICU graduate parent, Joyce Tang, joined Marcel Panas in this remarkable experience.  Thanks to Dr. Chloe Joynt for including families throughout this past year in the education of our NICU Fellows and we wish them all the best as they prepare for their upcoming exams in Ottawa! 

NICU FACT member Amanda Proctor shared what Family Centred Care means to her to 12 nurses new to the NICU.  This was followed by a real conversation about the benefits and challenges of FCC in the NICU.  Karen Calhoun brought the experiences of her family to 16 new inpatient and PICU nurses.  We also welcomed Clinical Nurse Educator, Kim Bateman, in her first time sharing Family Centred Care from a staff perspective. Thank you all for sharing your personal stories.  As always, these experiences continue to have a great impact on the staff joining the Stollery.  A big thanks to the Clinical Nurse Education team for continuing to be such strong supporters of Family Centred Care!

A Working Group of the Stollery Family Centred Care Council is currently recruiting 5 new family members for the Stollery Family Centred Care Council. The Council is in its 4th year of operations. Since October 2009 families have been important partners in improving the operations and care of children through many initiatives. In order to sustain this important collaboration we are recruiting new family members to expand the voice and representation on the Council.

 

If you are interested please consider the points below and let us know of your interest.

 

We are looking for individuals who:

• Can commit 5-8 hours a month for Council meetings and working groups. The work can be done in-person, or remotely by Telehealth or via conference call.
• Represent diversity - hold a variety of roles in your communities, and bring a variety of skills from your personal, volunteer or work experience.
• Share insights in ways others can learn from.
• Respect the perspectives of others.
• Are able to see beyond your own personal experience.
• Speak comfortably in a meeting setting.
• Work in partnership with others.
• Want to give back to the Stollery in a positive and constructive manner.
• Are able to influence others and spread the family centred care philosophy in your communities and with peers.
• Are positive and supportive of the values of the hospital.

 This is a unique opportunity to be a collaborative partner on our Council, which consists of 24 members, including 11 family representatives, 3 young adults (previous patients or siblings), 3 staff, 4 physicians and 3 senior leaders. The Council meets monthly on the third Tuesday from 6 - 8 pm.

 

The Council Recruitment Working Group is reviewing family, staff and physician candidates who are interested in the Council.   Chosen candidates will be interviewed by a panel.

 

Please contact Kaitlin Belair at 780.407.7255 to confirm your interest by February 15, 2013. 

 

If you have further questions please call Heather Mattson McCrady at: 780.407.7875 or heather.mccrady@albertahealthservices.ca.