Sample Emergency Department Policy for Patient- and Family-Centered Care

Resource Overview

• Provided as a sample policy for integrating patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) principles into ED practice for pediatric and adult patients.
• Addresses shared decision-making, medication safety engagement, family presence during procedures/resuscitation, and discharge education.
• Includes structured bereavement support, guidance, and documentation expectations aligned with quality and accreditation standards.
  

How to Use This Resource

• Adapt as a template to formalize family engagement, communication, and shared decision-making processes in the ED.
• Align medication safety, discharge education, and family presence practices with institutional policy and regulatory guidance.
• Incorporate into staff training, patient experience initiatives, and quality improvement programs.