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A Primer on Family Centred Care 
January 2014  

"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out." - Vaclav Havel

 
IN THIS ISSUE (Click to link)
MEMBERSHIP CORNER - NICOLE LYSTE
MEMBERSHIP CORNER - TARA FOLLET
NEW ONLINE MEMBERSHIP FORM!
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY: PEER SUPPORT
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES: SHARING YOUR STORY
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY: PEER SUPPORT
NEW PRIORITIES
NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS
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 FACT members,
Nicole Lyste, Family Member and Tara Follet, NICU Nurse Practitioner and FACT Co-Chair.
MEMBERSHIP CORNER - 
NICOLE LYSTE
NICU FACT Family Member, Nicole with daughter, Hannah, and husband Alvin
What brought you to the NICU FACT?

 

My daughter Hannah spent 95 in the NICU and when it was nearing the end of her stay Amanda the amazing social worker asked me about joining the Council.  We had an overall positive experience in the NICU and wanted to be able to share what helped and hindered my family and I get through a stressful period of our lives.  During our time at the Stollery it was amazing too see doctors  genuinely wanting parents to be involved and empowered about their role in their child getting better.

 

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

I love reading and while my daughter was in the hospital I read every research study that her surgeon had put in her file.  I have zero background in medicine or science so it was a learning curve to comprehend them but reading helped me feel more in control of a situation in which there was little control to be had.
 
What is something that the FACT has done (past or present) that you are excited about?
 

I love the communication between staff and parents.  Meeting with new NICU nurses to explain what family centred care means to a parent is a wonderful opportunity to provide insight on how important they are to journey of healing children.

MEMBERSHIP CORNER - 
TARA FOLLET
NICU Nurse Practitioner, Tara Follet, and husband, Steve.
What brought you to the NICU FACT? 

 

I strongly believe that incorporating families in the care of their children is paramount in the context of quality care.  I thoroughly enjoy working with families and their children and I feel privileged to be part of their journey.  FACT engages this collaboration and I am excited to be part of that.

 

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

I am a mother of 4 beautiful girls (now young women) and one wonderful granddaughter.  I have spent much of my adult life, both professionally and personally living and working with families, particularly around childbirth and parenting experiences.  When I told my family and friends about the position I was applying to in the NICU almost 6 years ago there I experienced unanimous support.  My husband, children, friends and colleagues all exclaimed that this position was made for me and I for it.  I have never looked back!

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

Although I am new to FACT, I think all the collaborative work that has been done with respect to "getting the FACT word out there" at regional and international conferences, is fantastic.  I am excited to be on the committee, to learn more on how we can work together.

NEW! ONLINE FCC NETWORK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
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INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY:  REDEVELOPED NEW NURSES' ORIENTATION 

The New Nurses' Orientation (known as SNELP) has undergone a significant evolution.  We are looking for more family members to add to our great team of presenters to take part in this rewarding opportunity to educate staff in being family centred in the way in which care is provided at the bedside.

 

Rather than a 90 minute presentation, the new format will include 4, 45 minute role playing sessions where families play the role of families!  Each of the four scenarios has been carefully developed with Families and staff to ensure that the goals and objectives of being Family Centred have been met.  Families, new nurses and staff will have the opportunity to evaluate and discuss each session which will provide the greatest opportunity for learning.  You will receive all of the necessary coaching.  The only experience required is you being a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend of a patient or you've been a patient yourself!

 

The sessions take place one Monday each month between 9:00 am and 11:30 am.  You do not have to be there the entire time.  Depending on your own schedule you can participate for a minimum of one hour to a maximum of two and a half hours.

 

Families who have taken part in many of our role playing forms of education have all found the experience rewarding, enjoyable and even healing.

If you are interested in being involved or would like more information, please contact:
 
 
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  SHARING YOUR STORY

 

The value of the family story continues to increase demand for Family Talks presentations!  We are looking for families to share their stories at the following events:

 

MacEwan University 3rd Year Nursing Students

 

Families with experiences of critically ill patients are invited to spend 30 - 40 minutes sharing their experiences with 3rd year nursing students at MacEwan University.  We are looking for families who can share their insights into the impact on how having a hospitalized impacts the entire family. The framework for this course is around Family Centred Care.

 

We are looking to present to three different classes (this can be the same family for all three, or three different families).

 

Monday, February 10th or Wednesday, February 12th

8:00 am to 9:20 am AND 9:30 - 10:50

 

Thursday, March 13

11:00 am - 12:20 pm

 

NICU Nurse's Orientation

Wednesday, March 12

1:15 pm - 3:15 pm 

Royal Alex Site

 

AND / OR

 

Wednesday, May 15

1:15 pm - 3:15 pm 

Royal Alex Site


PICU Fellows Communication Role Playing
 
We are looking for two families who wish to take part in a role playing with PICU Residents.  The session will be facilitated by Dr. Dan Garros who will lead with a presentation on communication skills then guide the Residents in practicing these skills with families.
 
Thursday, April 17
(Time to be determined)
University Site
 
 
If you haven't shared your story before, you will be supported throughout the preparation and the presentation by Family Centred Care Staff to ensure you have the most possible rewarding experience.  If you are interested in participating in any of these great educational experiences or would like to be considered for future events, please email:

 
INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY:  PEER SUPPORT

"Peer support is distinct from other forms of social support in that the source of support is a peer, a person who is similar in fundamental ways to the recipient of the support; their relationship is one of equality. A peer is in a position to offer support by virtue of relevant experience: he or she has "been there, done that" and can relate to others who are now in a similar situation." - Wikipedia

 

Providing peer support in various forms to families while in the midst of their own journeys has been a key priority for both the Stollery FCC Council and NICU FACT since their inception.  Much work has been done by many members of both councils to create a framework for providing this type of support for families.  We will be soon recruiting members of the FCC Network to become family mentors for various initiatives including:

  • Coffee, Comfort and Conversation Parent Group at the University Site NICU / PICU
  • Parent Group at the Royal Alexandra Hospital NICU
  • One on one perinatal support for surgical families  at the David Schiffe (University site) NICU
  • One on one support for families in the Royal Alexandra NICU
  • Family Bedside Orientation
Stay tuned in the next few weeks for more information!  If you have any questions or comments, please email:
 
 
NEW PRIORITIES:  
Family Centred Care Council

The Stollery Family Centred Care Council has completed a thorough process in identifying 5 top priorities to further family centred care at the Stollery in the coming 2 years.  

  1.  Family Talks have been instrumental in our success in supporting staff, residents, and physicians in understanding the perspective of families and incorporating this into their day to day practice. Families presenting with staff continues to be a top priority, and is now evolving into more and diverse ways of education, dialogue and learning; including scenarios, role playing, and simulations.  
  2. Peer Support has also been a key priority of the Council since its beginnings.  Opportunities for previous patients and families to provide the unique support as a peer to families with children in the Stollery are being developed along with training and orientation to the specific initiatives.
  3. Family Centred Design continues to be important to the Stollery as plans for renovations and expansions are taking place for significant areas of the hospital.  Families are now consistently involved in Capital Projects bringing their unique perspective to the planning and design table.  In addition to the current projects (Ambulatory Care Clinic, Operative Services, Critical Care expansion) the Council will be gathering information and family perspectives to support senior leadership in preparing for future space needs.  
  4. Discharge Planning is a complex process that requires effective communication with many healthcare providers, the patient and family.  The council is looking forward to collaborating with staff to further improve this process.
  5. Transitions from Youth to Adult Care
    is an important stage in a youth and families healthcare journey.  Many areas of the healthcare system are required to work well together to assist youth and families in this transition.  
Contact heather.mccrady@albertahealthservices if you are interested  in being involved in any of these priorities.
NEW MEMBERS:  
Family Centred Care Council

The FCC Council Recruitment Working Group was thrilled with the interest demonstrated by applicants from physicans and staff in being members on the Council.  Interviews were held with 9 physicians and 6 frontline staff!  Candidates were chosen based on our commitment to have a diverse council with varied backgrounds and experience. 

 

We are excited to welcome the following new members to Council:

Physicians:

  • Dr. Karen Forbes - Medical Lead Medicine
  • Dr. Dawn Davies - Palliative Team, Oncologist
  • Dr. Natalie Anton - PICU Intensivist
  • Dr. Rehana Chatur - Community Pediatrician

Staff:

  • Debbie Olmstead - Non-Invasive Ventilation Program Coordinator, NP
  • Misty Reiss - Neonatal Follow-up Clinic, NP
  • Janice Belyea - 4E4 Frontline Staff, LPN
 Stay posted, as interviews are being completed for another Management representative.

A big thanks to the Recruitment & Selection Working Group: Jodie Craven, Poonam Madan, Marcel Panas and Heather McCrady for interviewing; and to Ali Martens, Donald Lepp, Lynett Kane, and Karen Calhoun.

Click on this link to learn more about the :