Free 24/7 Nurse Advice Line: 844-GET-CHOC.

Patient- and Family-Centered Care

Patient- and family-centered care is a partnership between our staff and your family, working together to meet the needs of your child in the best way possible.

We encourage patients and families to be active members of the care team by asking questions, sharing knowledge and making decisions. We can share our knowledge about medical treatments, while you can share your knowledge about your child and family and what is important to you. We encourage you to ask questions regarding medications, tests and procedures.

Patient- and family-centered care also means open communication and information sharing in a language and style you can understand. We want you to ask us questions and work with us to develop a communication style that works for you and your family. We are committed to making sure you know how your child is doing and you are involved in the plan of care.

Our vision is to partner with your family to deliver what matters to you.

Nurse talking to family in lobby

  Listen to our podcast about patient- and family-centered care.

Family Advisory Council

The Family Advisory Council is an important group of adult family members from a variety of backgrounds and family types who meet regularly to provide input on decisions, initiatives and discussions at CHOC. Among its many accomplishments since its creation in 2002, the council has:

  • Helped revise CHOC’s visitor policy to be more family-friendly
  • Created a parent advisory board for the NICU and Small Baby Unit
  • Reviewed CHOC’s patient satisfaction survey to ensure it makes sense for families
  • Helped implement an education tool for patients and families checking out of the hospital
  • Provided input on dry-erase boards installed in patient rooms
  • Spearheaded the Lending Laptop program for patients and families
  • Consulted on the design of the Bill Holmes Tower and the PICU/CVICU.

For more information about the Family Advisory Council, please send us a message.

We rely on four guiding principles to deliver patient- and family-centered care.

Dignity and Respect

Your family is a part of CHOC. We are committed to listening to you and honoring your opinions and choices. Your values and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the care plan and decision-making. We respect that every family is different. In fact, we ask each patient and family to define their family for us, whether that includes parents, grandparents, boyfriends and girlfriends, friends or anyone else who has an important part in helping a child get better. These important people are not visitors—they are partners in a child’s care.

What families say this means to them: “CHOC is instrumental at keeping patients and families together to face their challenges.”

Information Sharing

Our health care providers strive to communicate clearly and share complete and unbiased information with you. Our communication is timely, accurate and presented in affirming and useful ways. We will always work to use a language and style that makes sense to you.

What families say this means to them: “Every discipline focuses on using words patients and families can understand. If questions arise, we take every action to reach an understanding.”

Participation

No one knows your child like you do. And, patients have important ideas about their health care, too. Families and patients are encouraged and supported in their participation in care decisions at any level they choose. You may be involved in care team discussions, including physician rounding, bedside reports and shift-to-shift reports.

What families say this means to them: “CHOC empowers patients and families to feel like a partner in care. This partnership transforms them into active participants in the care of the child.”

Collaboration

We invite patients and families to collaborate in policy and program development, implementation and assessment in health care facility design as well as the delivery of care. Many patients and families are involved in hospitals decisions at CHOC, and some even serve on key hospital committees such as medical/surgical, ethics, patient safety and palliative care. They provide a family and parent perspective on policies, procedures, documents or education for patients and families.

What families say this means to them: “Patients and families are experts in the care of the child. Their knowledge is a valuable component in the coordination of the care of the child.”

C.A.R.E.S.: A Comprehensive Approach to Patient- and Family-Centered Care

choco waving

CHOC’s professional practice model, C.A.R.E.S, is the driving force of practice depicting how clinicians practice, collaborate, communicate and develop professionally to provide the highest quality care.

Collaborative Interprofessional Relationships
A collaborative approach in developing relationships between the patient, family and care team working together to achieve excellence.

Advancement of Professional Practice
To continuously pursue knowledge and advance professional roles as it relates to practice, education, leadership and research.

Respect and Dignity
To provide trauma-informed care with sensitivity, courtesy, dignity and respect for all.

Evidence Based Practice, Research, and Innovation
To create and improve practice based on the most current evidence and research, as well as committing to creative and innovative ideas at the forefront of patient care.

Shared Governance and Leadership at All Levels
A process in which all professionals are leaders who govern and make decisions regarding their own practice and work environment in collaboration with the administrative team.

Family Resource Center

Part of our patient- and family-centered vision is to provide you the information and tools you need while you’re at CHOC. Whether you need a fax machine to conduct personal business, a computer to research your child’s health condition or simply a place to go and have a moment of normalcy, the Family Resource Center is available for every need. The center offers comfortable seating, multimedia workstations, computers, fax machines, printers, WiFi access and a library of books and resources covering a wide range of diagnoses, illnesses, stress management as well as general health and wellness. Some books are provided to keep at no charge.

The Family Resource Center is located on the second floor of the Bill Holmes Tower and is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday. Our Coffee Kiosk is located just down the hall as well, offering Starbucks coffee drinks and snacks. Learn more about the family amenities and services at CHOC.