9/23/2007 - Radio Program
Patient and Family Centered Care: Addressing Family and Patient Needs When a Loved One is Hospitalized

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Navigating a hospital stay can be difficult for patients and their families, but often there are actions administrators and healthcare professionals can take to make the process easier. The key to improving the care experience is for patients and their families to offer feedback and actively participate in a dialogue with their healthcare team. On this Patient Power program, host Andrew Schorr is joined by Cezanne Garcia, associate director at the University of Washington Medical Center’s Patient and Family Education Services. Ms. Garcia explains the concept of patient and family centered care and how the University of Washington (UW) Medical Center is leading the way to demonstrate how the participation of patients and their families is making a big difference.

Brandelyn Bergstedt, who serves as a mentor and patient member on one of the hospital’s councils, also joins the program to share her wisdom about how to inspire positive and effective change in the hospital system. Her wisdom developed during the four months her daughter spent in the hospital after she was delivered at 23 weeks at the UW Medical Center. Brandelyn explains to listeners how family involvement is becoming more standard, and she offers tips about the best ways to communicate with clinicians. Ms. Garcia goes on to give several examples of how suggestions from patients and their families are changing the way the UW Medical Center operates.

Patients and families are working side-by-side with healthcare professionals on everything from the design of new patient rooms to hiring of faculty to food service schedules. Although forming councils and organizations to implement these changes, along with the changes themselves, may be an initial investment of resources, Ms. Garcia points to several national studies that show how patient and family centered care case management actually reduces costs in the long run. Ms. Garcia encourages patients and their families to talk with their clinicians – feedback and evaluation are the only way they get better. This Patient Power program is an excellent place to learn how to communicate your needs and inspire change in the hospital system.

Sponsored by University of Washington Medical Center

Guests:

Cezanne Garcia, M.P.H., Associate Director, Patient & Family Centered Care and Education Services, University of Washington Medical Center
Brandelyn Bergstedt, Volunteer Coordinator, Parent Mentor Program & Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Advisory Council member

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