Healthcare Professionals

Questions

1. How has family-centered rounds changed patient care at Cincinnati Children's?
2. How has family-centered rounds changed your practice?

Responses

“Rounds have become more of a team effort with the family and bedside nurse. The direct discussion about the clinical care and exam findings with the family present reveal point in care insights with streamline plans. Family-centered rounds remove the speculation about etiologies of symptoms and overnight events that previously occurred in a conference room as the discussion with the parent present dispels false conclusions.”

“I have become more in tune to the needs of patients beyond their physical diagnosis.”

“Care at Cincinnati Children's has been dramatically changed…family-centered rounds have become our standard and our branding…it is what others have identified us with. It is the crux of our quality initiatives.”

“Family-centered care has changed my practice profoundly. Previously I would follow the traditional standard of hallway rounds which would NEVER involve the family or the nurse. It’s sad to say but there would often be days when I would never even see the family even if they were in the room.  Now, rounds are literally family-centered….i.e. centered around the family, the family is the focus. They are given the choice to participated on rounds, most do…and when they do they are the focus of our attention…It has made me more empathetic, it has made me a more passionate doctor about both family concerns and medical care, it has made me communicate not only to families but to the rest of the staff. It has made me more efficient, the families come to realize that rounding time with be the time that they know absolutely positively that I will be there to talk with them and address their concerns.  In essence, it has made me a better doctor and I can’t imagine doing rounds in a non-family-centered way.”

Questions

1. As a nurse, how has family-centered rounds changed your practice?
2. How has family-centered rounds changed patient care at Cincinnati Children's?

Responses

“Family-centered rounds enable nurses to more efficiently and safely deliver patient care…The nurse or family can clarify orders that may be unclear…Nurses can also play an active role in advocating for the patient.”

“Families are encouraged to verbalize concerns and are informed that they play an active role in patient safely, which is of utmost importance at Cincinnati Children's.”

“Based on the many discussions that may occur during rounds, I can then plan my daily activities, prepare patients for discharge, or continue education.”

‘Patient care has changed in a great way. For one, I feel our families and patient have more of a voice. Their concerns and thoughts are heard more and we address them when directed toward the team.  In addition our families are now feeling more empowerment in the care of their children.”