EMSC National Resource Center
EMSC Family Advisory Network
This section of the EMSC National Resource Center (NRC) website provides details on its Family Advisory Network, a project developed to facilitate the inclusion of family representatives in state EMSC programs, and includes information on the project’s family-focused listserv and newsletter. (Accessed October 2015)
EMSC Federal Performance Measures.
This section of the EMSC NRC website outlines the 10 performance measures required for the federal EMSC Program that reflect national outcomes needed to improve the delivery of emergency care services to children. Performance Measures 79-80 require permanent establishment of an EMSC presence in a state or territory’s EMS system, and part of this strategy for permanence is the assignment of a family representative to the state or territory’s EMSC Advisory Committee to ensure that family issues are addressed in the emergency care system. (Accessed October 2015)
Family-Centered Prehospital Care: Partnering with Families to Improve Care
Developed by NAEMT in collaboration with the EMSC Program, this resource establishes key definitions and goals associated with family-centered care. It also provides recommendations for providers on family presence and participation in the prehospital environment and during care transfers, and includes tips on how to: provide culturally competent care; engage families of children with special healthcare needs within a response area; and involve family members in local EMS training programs. (2000)
Guidelines for Providing Family-Centered Prehospital Care
The result of a two-day Consensus Panel Meeting held in July 2000 and hosted by NAEMT through a EMSC contract, this resource articulates recommended guidelines for the provision of family-centered prehospital care. The guidelines address topics such as: EMS provider and family member safety, family involvement in EMS training and care provision, the integration of family-centered and culturally competent practices within prehospital care, family preparedness for health emergencies, and the development of stress management programs for EMS providers. (2000)
American Academy of Pediatrics
Technical Report: Patient- and Family-Centered Care of Children in the Emergency Department
This revised technical report draws on previously published policy statements and reports, reviews the current literature, and describes the present state of practice and research regarding patient- and family-centered care for children in the emergency department setting, as well as some of the complexities of providing such care. (January 2015)
Policy Statement: Role of the Medical Home in Family-Centered Early Intervention Services
This policy statement is designed to assist the pediatric health care professional in assuming a proactive role with the interdisciplinary teams, including families and community-based programs, that provide early intervention services. (November 2007)
Policy Statement: Family-Centered Care and the Pediatrician’s Role
This policy statement outlines the core principles of family-centered care, summarizes the recent literature linking family-centered care to improved health outcomes, and lists various other benefits to be expected when engaging in family-centered pediatric practice. The statement concludes with specific recommendations for how pediatricians can integrate family-centered care in hospitals, clinics, and community settings, as well as in more broad systems of care. (September 2012)
Policy Statement: Patient- and Family-Centered Care and the Role of the Emergency Physician Providing Care to a Child in the Emergency Department
Developed in collaboration with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), this policy statement defines patient- and family-centered care as an approach to health care that recognizes the role of the family in providing medical care; encourages collaboration between the patient, the family, and the health professional; and honors individuals' and families' strengths, cultures, traditions, and expertise. (Reaffirmed January 2012)
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Improving Family Satisfaction and Participation in Decision Making in an Intensive Care Unit
This study aims to develop and implement an evidence-based communication algorithm and evaluate its effect in improving satisfaction among patients’ families. (October 2013)
Understanding Health Care Professionals’ Views of Family Presence During Pediatric Resuscitation
This study aims to examine the conflicting perceptions that health care professionals hold regarding family presence during pediatric resuscitation. (May 2011)
American College of Emergency Physicians
Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department
Developed concurrently by ACEP, the AAP, and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) – with support for the federal EMSC Program – this policy statement addresses family-centered care issues in health emergencies, including education of the patient, family, and regular caregivers; discharge planning; and family presence during care. (April 2009)
Death of a Child in the Emergency Department
This ACEP/AAP joint policy statement recognizes that emergency physicians should use a family-centered and team-oriented approach when a child dies in the emergency department and should provide personal, compassionate, and individualized support to families while respecting social, religious, and cultural diversity. (Revised April 2014)
American Hospital Association
Patient-Centeredness Bibliography
This section of the AHA’s website provides a bibliography of both current and archived publications and articles related to patient- and family-centered care. (July 2015)
Strategies for Leadership: Patient- and Family-Centered Care
Developed in partnership with the Institute for Family-Centered Care, this toolkit includes a video and discussion companion, a resource guide, and a self-assessment tool to support patient-and family-centered care practices within healthcare provider organizations. (Accessed August 2015)
Emergency Nurses Association
Family Presence During Invasive Procedures and Resuscitation in the Emergency Department
This policy statement affirms that emergency nurses should play an important role in making the option of family presence available to all families who request it. (Revised September 2010)
Family Voices
About Family-Centered Care
Scrolling down to the section “About Family Care,” this Family Voices web page – which focuses on providing leadership for implementing core components of a system of care for children with special healthcare needs – includes links to PDF documents that explain definitions and principles of family-centered care and to family-centered care self-assessment tools for both providers and families. (Accessed October 2015)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Patient- and Family-Centered Care Organizational Self-Assessment Tool
This self-assessment tool allows organizations to understand the range and breadth of elements of patient- and family-centered care and to assess where they are against the leading edge of practice. (June 2013)
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Support of the Family in the Patient-Centered Intensive Care Unit: American College of Critical Care Medicine Task Force 2004–2005
These recommendations – developed through a consensus-panel process – address such topics as: care conferencing to reduce family stress and improve consistency in communication; honoring culturally appropriate requests for truth-telling and informed refusal; spiritual support; staff education; family presence at both rounds and resuscitation; open flexible visitation; family-friendly signage; and family support before, during, and after a death. (2007)
Society of Pediatric Nurses
Position Statement: Safe Staffing for Pediatric Patients
This position statement endorses the belief that all children and families should receive high quality family-centered care. It also addresses staffing issues and recommends that the needs of families be taken into account during patient care. (September 2011)