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A Primer on Family Centred Care 
August 2013  

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched 

- the must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

 
IN THIS ISSUE (Click to link)
MEMBERSHIP CORNER - ALISON MARTENS
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES?
OPPORTUNITY: SHARE YOUR NICU STORY
OPPORTUNITY: STOLLERY WEBSITE DESIGN
FAMILY TALKS ROUNDUP
RECRUITING NEW FCC COUNCIL AND NETWORK MEMBERS
OPPORTUNITY: FCC Week!
THE PCICU TRANSFER STUDY & FCC
RECRUITING NEW FCC COUNCIL AND NETWORK MEMBERS
CARDIAC SYMPOSIUM
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
Each month, we will introduce you to two members of the Family Centred Care Council and NICU Family Advisory Care Team.  This month we feature two FCC Council members, Alison Martens, Family Member and Dr. Heather Dreise.
MEMBERSHIP CORNER - 
ALISON MARTENS
Ali and Jacob
Jacob enjoys spending time on The Beach with his mama, Ali Martens
What brought you to the Council?

 

I wanted to get involved with the council because I wanted to find a way to give back to the hospital and the staff within it, that has quite literally saved our son's life several times. I have, as a mother spent, two years inside the Stollery. I have seen first hand the affects of the changes the FCCC has made with patient and staff relations, as well as the increase in quality of life for patients and families.  I felt it was an opportunity to be involved in something truly great!

 

 

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

I was brought up running  sled dogs with my dad and have competed at the highest level possible within our sport all over North America. While I was pregnant with Jacob I competed in the Open North American Championship and came in 10th! 
 
What is something that the Council has done (past or present) that you are excited about?
 

I very much enjoy the appearance of bedside white boards as a way to open communication between staff and families. As well, I enjoy the involvement of families in the education of staff and physicians.  

INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES 
Many of you have been asking for ongoing lists of opportunities for you to be involved.  Whenever we highlight an initiative that is looking for involvement from members of our network (families and staff!) in the monthly primer, we will start the heading with "INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES" ... that way you can jump right to the story and join in the great work being done by all of our network members!
 
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY:  SHARE YOUR NICU STORY AT NURSE'S WORKSHOP
The NICU is hosting two workshops for staff called "Wee Wonders Workshop" at a nursing conference.  The educators are looking for a couple of families who have had experience in the NICU with extremely premature babies (i.e. 23-25 weeks) to share their story with staff (RNs, LPNs,).  There are two sessions.  You can present at both or we can have two or more different families.  FCC staff will help you prepare for your presentation and even join you in support.
 
Dates:   Tuesday, October 15 
& Thursday, November 14
Time:   9:15 - 10:15
Location:  Lois Hole Hospital for Women 
 
If you are interested, please email Marcel Panas at:
 
 
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY:  NEW FUTURE STOLLERY WEBSITE!
Under Construction
The Stollery Children's Hospital is in the early stages of creating it's own website!  

We are looking for network members who would be interested in providing input on the design and content with a special focus on Family Centred Care.  The project has only just begun and will take some time before it's ready to be introduced to the public.  If you are interested in providing input on the design, please email Marcel Panas at:
 
 
WELCOMING NEW STAFF TO THE STOLLERY!

Family Member, Karen Calhoun, joined by Marcel Panas, introduced Family Centred Care to 18 new nurses at their orientation in August.

 

As always, the staff were really engaged with Karen's presentation and shared in a discussion on what Family Centred Care means to them as they prepare to care for our children. 

NICU FUN RUN / WALK CELEBRATING 40 YEARS!
NICU Fun Run
5 km Fun Run  or 2 KM Walk
 
The Northern Alberta Neonatal Program is celebrating 40 years of Neonatology in Edmonton!  To engage staff & community in celebrating this milesone, the NICU program has planned the "NICU Fun Run in the Park".  We look forward to current and past colleagues, NICU Grads and community members joining us for a fun-filled day. Proceeds will benefit the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, neonatal research and education.
 
Register on-line with the Running Room (event ID 9786):
 
 
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY:  PATIENT & FAMILY CENTRED CARE WEEK!
FCC Checkmark
We will be joining Family Centred Care partners across Alberta in celebrating Patient & Family Centred Care Week September 27 - October 3, 2013!

Some of the activities include:
 
Sept 30 - Oct 3:  FCC Display Booth
 
We will be setting up a display booth to create awareness about Family Centred Care at the Stollery and celebrate our accomplishments.  The tables will be setup on the main floor at the north end of the large cafeteria.  It will include brochures, photos and even draw prizes thanks to support form the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation.  If you or your family are interested in spending some time at the table during that time, please email FCC Council Family Member, Siomone Picard at:


Be sure to visit us at the booth during FCC Week!

Monday, Sept 30 or Wednesday Oct 2 - Joint Presentation with Alberta Children's Hospital Calgary

We will be teaming up with FCC Staff and families from the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation to do a joint presentation on each of our FCC initiatives.  This promises to be a fun and interactive session based on the "Pecha Kucha" style of presentations.  (Timed presentation of 20 slides in 20 seconds per slide!)

The presentation will be broadcast to our Family Centred Care partners throughout Alberta.

The date and time have yet to be confirmed.  Everyone is invited!

If you are interested in being part of the presentation, please email:


Thursday, Oct. 3:  Pediatric Grand Rounds

We will presenting what Family Centred Care is at the Stollery and sharing the results of the recent survey. It will be broadcast across the city and the province via telehealth.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!

Time:  8:00 am - 9:00 am
Location:  Mazankowski 3i Shaw Auditorium
 
Thursday, Oct. 3: NICU Grand Rounds

Family Centred Care Week activities will conclude with a sneak peek presentation that Neonatologist, Dr. Chloe Joynt, NICU FACT member, Joyce Tang, FCC Council Member, Ali Martens, and FCC Coordinator, Marcel Panas has been invited to bring to the Canadian Pediatric Health Centres (CAPHC) annual conference in Toronto in October!  They will be sharing the experiences of engaging families in the orientation of new Fellows, education via role playing and preparation for their oral exams.  A first for NICUs in Canada!  Everyone is invited.

Time:  2:00 pm
WMC Site:  The Dvorkin Lounge 2G2.07
Royal Alexandra Hospital:  Room 5030 (via telehealth)

For more information about these events, email:

 
UPDATE:  THE PCICU TRANSFER STUDY & FAMILY CENTRED CARE NETWORK

 

A special thanks to the Family Centered Care Network for their contributions to our new Transfer Study currently taking place in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU. This project aims to look at how directly involving parents in a meeting with their child's medical team may help to alleviate some of their anxieties, as well as improve patient safety, when preparing to move from ICU to the wards. To date we have enrolled 44 participants. 12 have successfully completed the intervention arm and 13 have completed the control arm. The Family Centered Care Network has been fundamental in the implementation of this project. A handout geared towards educating parents about the goals of meeting with their medical team has been authored by members of the Family Centered Care Network, empowering parents to actively engage in the conversation in a way meaningful to them. We also have a team of Supporting Parents trained specifically for this study on standby to offer one-on-one peer support to families who feel they could benefit from meeting with those who have gone before them. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with Family Centered Care truly at the core, assisting us in continuing the work of supporting families in their hospitalization experience. From our team to yours, thank you for the work that you do. 

 

Elina WilliamsRN, BScN

Research Nurse and Study Coordinator

Pediatric Cardiac Sciences

Stollery Children's Hospital

University of Alberta

 

Phone: 780-407-4427

Fax: 780-407-3954

Pager: 780-445-1967

Email:elina.williams@albertahealthservices.ca

 

RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS TO THE FAMILY CENTRED CARE COUNCIL & NETWORK
FCC Hands
 The Family Centred Care Council is an important forum to further the family voice and family centred care in the care and operations at the Stollery Children's Hospital.
 
The Collaboration and diversity of its members has contributed to our many successes to date.  The enthusiasm that a new member brings adds to this success.  

We are currently inviting new applications from:
  • Family Members of children who have received services at the Stollery
  • Previous Patients or Siblings of children who have received services at the Stollery (young adults)
  • Physicians
  • Staff

We are looking for new members on Council who:

  • Share insights in ways others can learn from them
  • Respect the perspectives of others
  • See beyond their own personal experience
  • Speak comfortably in a meeting setting
  • Work in partnerships with others
  • Are positive and supportive of the values of the hospital
If you are interested in being a member of the Council, please forward a brief statement of your interest to:
along with a completed FCC application form by September 6, 2013.  All applications will be reviewed and applicants notified of the interview process.  

Even if you are not able to be part of council, you can still participate in its many initiatives by joining the FCC Network.  You can participate projects, short term initiatives, and through email or phone call venues. Memberships to the network are always welcome anytime.

 

Many of our Council and FCC Network's most active members have joined after being referred by physicians, staff, and family members. A new FCC Brochure and Application form has been created to assist in sharing what FCC is at the Stollery and how physicians, staff, and families can get involved.
  
To view the new brochure and Council terms of reference, click on the following links. Feel free to pass these along to anyone you feel would be a great addition to the Council or Network!

CARDIAC SYMPOSIUM : MARK YOUR CALENDAR

  Tetralogy

 

On  October 26, 2013, the University of Alberta is hosting a congenital cardiac symposium to provide up-to-date, state of the art information on the diagnosis and management of children born with Tetralogy of Fallot. It is aimed towards all health care professionals and family members caring for children or adults with Tetralogy of Fallot. 

 

The Keynote Speaker is Pat O'Brien, RN MSN, CPNP-AC, from Boston Children's Hospital.  The event will be held at the Bernard Snell Hall in the University Hospital.

 

We are very excited to have family member and FCC Council member, Christine Cripps-Woods, presenting the family perspective at this symposium!