|
| |
Each month, we will introduce you to members of the Family Centred Care Council and NICU Family Advisory Care Team. This month we feature two of our newest family members to the NICU Family Advisory Care Team, Jennifer Hanrahan & Sarah Topilko.
|
MEMBERSHIP CORNER - Leah Johnson-Coyle
|
 | NICU Family Advisory Care Team member |
What brought you to the Family Centred Care Council? I was told about FACT by one of the Nurse Practitioners in NICU - who invited me to be a part of it. I was more and more excited the more I heard about the group. I want to give back, I want to help improve the experiences for other families. I am very passionate about empowering families through family centered care.
What is one thing that you would like network members to know about you? I am very proud mother of boy/girl twins Molly & Finley and I am a Nurse practitioner in the adult CVICU at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. I love both very busy aspects of my life. I am passionate about helping mothers, fathers and families. I am so excited to be a member of FACT.
What is something that the FCCC has done (past or present) that you are most excited about? I am excited about helping to influence policy and procedures on various units and being able to provide feedback that will create a more positive environment and experiences for families. I really hope to be able to be a contact to help families who are struggling with life in NICU, a supportive colleague for new staff through orientations and resident training. |
MEMBERSHIP CORNER - Stephanie Amoah
|
 | Family Centred Care Council Member, and Sibling of previous Stollery patient |
What brought you to the Family Centred Care Council?
After spending 3 months at the NICU with my daughter I remembered how wonderful my experience within the NICU was despite the situation. I wanted to make a difference by becoming a resource to families who are going through a hospital experience and to share ideas I have that may enhance a families stay based on my experiences. What is one thing that you would like network members to know about you? I am a caring, compassionate and energetic individual whose profession and personal life is spent advocating for those without a voice or means to communicate their ideas or concerns. What is something that the FCCC has done (past or present) that you are most excited about? I am a large fan of the milestones calendar that was recently completed and distributed. When my daughter was in the hospital I wished for a means to record her milestones and was unable to find anything suitable in the hundreds of baby books out there. This I know means the world to the mothers using them now. |
|
| |
Did you miss a couple editions of the Stollery Family Centred Care Primer? Do you want to re-read about some the great accomplishments families, staff and physicians have been able to make working together?
To view previous editions, since January 2013, just click on this link:
|
ONLINE FCC NETWORK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
| |
Do you know anyone who would be interested in being part of the FCC Network? We've made it easier than ever to join!
Forward this primer by clicking:
Interested members can apply online or on their Smartphones or tablets by clicking on the following link:
Or by scanning the bar code above!
|
|
|
Edmonton Oilers Ambulatory Care Clinic Opening
|
 | Young Oiler's Fans celebrating with
1984 Stanley Cup Team Members |
He shoots, he scores! At the Oilers Ambulatory Clinic that is.
October 10th was an exciting day at the Stollery as the Great One and his fellow teammates from the 1984 Stanley Cup Champions Edmonton Oilers joined patients, families, government and Alberta Health Services officials, Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation staff, and Stollery staff to open the new Oilers Ambulatory Clinic on 2E. Autographs were signed and pictures were taken while tours were given of this new child and family-friendly space.
Many of the suggestions of family members involved in bringing the family perspective to the clinic design over two years ago were included in the final design. These include a lowered reception desk for better communication with children and a display case full of colorful, eye-catching items to entertain waiting children, a waiting area with room for strollers and plugs for electronic devices, as well as creative use of color and design for better way finding. During the opening, many children were seen enjoying the wall mounted toys and fish tank while mingling with the Oilers. The new Oilers Ambulatory Clinic will allow patients to have access to many specialists all under one roof, all in one visit.
|
WELCOME CHRISTIE OSWALD
Family Centred Care Coordinator
| |
My name is Christie Oswald and I'm very excited to be the new Coordinator of Family Centred Care.
Our family's journey at the Stollery Children's Hospital began when our son Jesse was diagnosed with Moebius Syndrome at 22 days old in 2006.
I was privileged to be a member of the Family Centred Care Council when it began and sat on the Council for three years. Over the past five years I have been active as a Family Talks Speaker and have been a family representative on several Stollery interview panels.
Patient and Family Centred Care is a passion of mine that began with my work as a Recreation Therapist in long term care and most recently as the Program Coordinator at the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and NWT. I have been a strong advocate of peer support after my own experience with a group of peer moms throughout our journey, and I am thrilled to be working on the new Family Bedside Orientation project.
We are an active family who likes to bike, hike, camp and paddle and you'll find us dodging off to the mountains or our family's cabin any spare weekend we have.
Please come by the Family Room and introduce yourself. I look forward to getting to know you and work with you!
|
Peer Support Training: Stollery and Glenrose Families
|
 On October 16 & 18, our third Peer Support Training was held jointly with the Glenrose Rehab Hospital with 10 new family mentors being trained. Dianne Tuterra led participants through 8 hours of training on being a good listener, validating family member's feelings, normalizing their reactions, being non-judgmental, and other important effective communication strategies. As one participant put it, peer support training "helped me feel better prepared" to be a peer support volunteer and provided a "window to a wonderful opportunity to make a difference." We are always looking for more peer support volunteers and our next training will be in early 2015. If you are interested in participating, please click here to contact Christie Oswald.
|
NICU FACT Families Involved in Significant Policy Change:
Now Published in
Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics
|
Clinical policy & practice has changed as a result of multiple healthcare providers and families taking a collaborative approach on how best to support treatments for infants born at the "cusp of viability".
Families with experience in the NICU shared their lived experiences to help bring context to the ethical discussion of resuscitation and life-support treatments. And now this approach and change in policy and practice has been published in the journal of Pediatrics.
As stated in the article:
"The inclusion of family members in the development of clinical policy was a novel experience for NICU staff, which we feel ultimately resulted in a more ethically sound approach to the care of these infants and their families."
A special thanks is extended to everyone who participated in making this change for other families expecting very premature babies.
Link to Abstract
|
|
|
SNELP (Pediatric Nurse's Orientation)
Family members Christie Oswald & Amanda Proctor brought their experience to the role plays and discussions with new pediatric nurses on October 20th.
PICU Nursing Staff Orientation
Network Family members, Tiffany Keiller and Karen Calhoun shared their experiences as a family in the PICU to a large group of new nursing staff! Staff share how the presentation helped them feel less intimidated about their role and how important it is to include siblings and other family members when ever possible.
NICU Fellows Role Playing
NICU Fact Member and FCC Council members; Sarah Topilko, Alison Martens, and Anne-Marie Paquin; participated in the role playing sessions with the 1st and 2nd year NICU fellows on October 10th. The scenarios provide the fellows the opportunity to have discussions with families in a non-threatening environment, and to receive valuable feedback from their peers, supervising neonatatologists and participating families.
 | | 1st and 2nd year Fellows, Neonatologists and Families |
|
|
|
We have many exciting opportunities for families to make a difference by sharing your story. If you are interested in presenting at a future "Family Talk", please email
heather.mccrady@albertahealthservices.ca
|
|
