Cincinnati Children's Offers Free Web Page for Patients and Families Beginning June 1
Beginning June 1, patients and families at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center will be able to create and update a free, private and personalized web page where they can share their latest news with friends and family and receive messages of support.
"When we started bringing Olivia to Cincinnati Children's for treatment two and a half years ago, being so far from our friends and family created one more hurdle for us," says Kent and Lisa Frese of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. "To keep in touch with grandparents and other relatives, as well as friends and co-workers, we made many phone calls and built a huge email list. The encouragement we got from prayers and supportive messages made it all worthwhile."
Families will be able to utilize their CarePages web page before, during and after hospitalization. CarePages allow patients and their caregivers to:
- Create web pages that they can update themselves, without the help of Cincinnati Children's staff
- Share news and provide status updates
- Create a guest Message Board where friends and family can build a support network without being intrusive
- Post contact and visiting information
- Share photos with their support community
- Choose the level of security and privacy they with to have
- Send compliments to caregivers
- Donate to Cincinnati Children's
"I find that often times families feel disconnected from their loved ones especially when an extended or long-distance stay is involved," says Patty Wells, MSN, RN, PNP, director of the Family Resource Center at Cincinnati Children's. "CaresPages gives families an opportunity to reconnect and get the support they need from family and friends."
Families wanting to utilize this service can access CarePages by visiting www.cincinnatichildrens.org/carepages. If they don't have their own computers, they will be able to get online in the Family Resource Center at Cincinnati Children's. Family Resource Center staff are available if families should need any assistance. Additional help is also available by contacting feedback@tlcontact.com (available on weekends) or 888-852-5521 (9am – 6pm CST weekdays).
A pilot of this program is currently under way at Cincinnati Children's on A6 North, in the Regional Center for Newborn Intensive Care (RCNIC) and the Family Resource Center, as well as at Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati.
Contact Information
Amy Caruso, 513-636-5637,
amy.caruso@cchmc.org
