Family-Centered Care Philosophy and Core Concepts
Family-Centered Care at Cincinnati Children's
A father and his daughter wait to see a health professional at Cincinnati Children's.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center incorporates the family-centered care philosophy into every aspect of its clinical and research practice.
At the heart of family-centered care is the belief that health care providers and the family are partners, working together to best meet the needs of the child.
Parents and family members provide the child's primary strength and support. Their information and insights can enhance the professional staff's technical knowledge, improve care and help us design better programs and friendlier systems.
Family-Centered Care Core Concepts
Family strengths
The family is the constant in the child's life. We support and empower family members as partners and decision-makers in their child's care and help them cope more confidently with their child's illness.
Respect
Family-centered care requires trust and respect, including respect for each family's values, beliefs, and religious and cultural background. We value families' knowledge of their children, acknowledge their authority as decision-makers and respect their choices.
Choice
We provide the information families need to make educated choices about treatment and support the choices they make. When families understand their options, they feel less powerless about their child's hospital experience.
Information Sharing
Our professional staff provides medical information to families and values the personal information families provide about their children. This information exchange builds trust and contributes to the partnership between families and caregivers.
Support
We support families by respecting their decisions; offering comfort as they cope with the child's illness; meeting the social, developmental and emotional needs of the child; and fostering family members' confidence in their ability to care for their child.
Flexibility
Families bring different personalities, life experiences, values, beliefs, education, and religious and cultural backgrounds to the hospital setting. Family-centered care emphasizes that caregivers must be flexible so they can meet the needs and preferences of all families.
Collaboration
As partners in care, professional staff and family members work together as collaborators in the best interest of the child.
Empowerment
Families have the right and the authority to care for their children. The core concepts of family-centered care empower families in the care of their children.
