A special thank you to our award-winning partners, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania Health System, for their leadership support in bringing The 4th International Conference on Patient- and Family-Centered Care to Philadelphia.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is a pioneer in fully involving patients and families as key partners in the healing process. In its 2008 guide to "America's Best Children's Hospitals," U.S. News & World Report ranked The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as the best hospital for children in the United States for the sixth consecutive year. Child Magazine ranked the hospital the best pediatric hospital in the United States for the fourth consecutive time. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an arm of the American Nurses Association, awarded the hospital Magnet Status for Nursing Excellence, a designation achieved by only 2 to 3 percent of hospitals nationwide. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is a leader in establishing a national model of patient- and family-centered care.    READ MORE...

The award-winning University of Pennsylvania Health System includes three hospitals in Philadelphia and outpatient centers throughout the region. In 2008, U.S. News & World Report, ranked the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States. Also, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awarded the hospital Magnet status, the highest institutional honor awarded for nursing excellence. The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine—founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school—is ranked among the nation's top 10 by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News also consistently ranks the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing among the nation's best. READ MORE…

• Tour of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia;
• Welcome Reception with a pre-release book-signing by Sorrel King, founder of the Josie King Foundation, patient safety advocate, and conference presenter;
  
• Peer Support Interest Group Gathering with Parent to Parent USA (P2P USA);
• Networking Breakfasts and Dinners;
• Massage and Integrative Therapies; and
  
• Luncheon with an International Flair.
  

• Lights of Liberty;
• Trolley Tour of Philadelphia;
• Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia; and
  
• Spirits of ’76 Ghost Tour of Philadelphia.
  

The Institute is happy to host The 4th International Conference on Patient- and Family-Centered Care~Partnerships for Quality and Safety in Pennsylvania, where Governor Edward G. Rendell launched the Prescription for Pennsylvania which is a set of integrated practical strategies for improving health care and containing costs for all Pennsylvanians. The core components are affordability, accessibility, and quality.

One part of the Prescription for Pennsylvania is the chronic care and patient-centered medical home initiative, which helps primary care providers improve the care and health of all Pennsylvanians, especially those with chronic diseases, and has the potential to save the state’s health care system billions of dollars once it is implemented statewide.

A Governor-appointed commission developed pilot programs in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania enrolling 30-60 primary care practices in learning collaboratives. This initiative is intended to help improve how health care providers monitor, deliver, and are reimbursed for chronic care management. The first collaborative started in May 2008. Building on this collaborative, it is anticipated that more than 750,000 patients will be treated at practices in other regions of the state involved in these collaboratives.

Learn more about the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform.

Pinwheel Pages regularly features “Action Plan Updates” submitted by participants to provide a status report on the strategies developed at the Institute's intensive training seminars. This month’s action plan updates come from New Jersey, Minnesota, and New York.

Meridian Health, New Jersey
Meridian Health, New Jersey, created guidelines, an application, and an orientation checklist to maximize patient and family advisors within council/committee structures. The first advisor joined the Academic and Research Council of the newly formed Institute for Evidence-Based Care.  

Bedside exchange of report was the goal of the three acute care hospitals of Meridian Health, which is now augmented by a daily patient medication information sheet, distributed with the 9 am medications. HCAHPS scores in medication and nurse communication satisfaction have increased and anecdotal reports indicate that patients find this process satisfying.

Perham Memorial Hospital, Minnesota
Effective January 2009, Perham Memorial Hospital, Minnesota, transitioned to bedside change of shift report, with patients and families invited to participate twice a day. Staff developed guidelines for a "touchdown" report where oncoming team members receive a 10-15 minute general update. Then, staff members pair up with the nurse caregiver from the previous shift at the bedside for a detailed individualized report and safety check. Patients are invited to participate at the night report but most ask not to be awakened. In any event, night shift nurses perform the safety checks together before the evening staff shift leaves for the night.

Patients and families consistently express appreciation for, and satisfaction with, the opportunity to be involved and to hear how nurses communicate care needs at the time of patient hand-off.

Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital
The newly constituted Family Advisory Council of the Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, New York, NY, is meeting monthly. This active group—comprised of parents, hospital leadership, and front line staff—created a "Things to Remember" pad for use by families in patient rooms and waiting rooms. It is a notepad with writing space and a few reminders of things people might be trying to keep track of (questions for the doctor, plans for well siblings, medications, side effects, phone calls, etc.) The group is also participating in a Pain Management Continuous Quality Improvement project, as well as the creation of white boards that will be placed in all the pediatric inpatient rooms. 

With leadership support, Mt. Sinai is getting ready to launch a survey about families’ experience of care. This survey will establish a baseline from which they can measure growth as they move forward with new programs. These programs will include changes to the structure of the Pediatric Residency Program and methods to incorporate families into rounds starting with the new academic year.

Congratulations to one of our Pinwheel Champion Sponsors, MCGHealth of Augusta, Georgia, for receiving the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) 2009 Socius Award. Socius is the Latin word for “partner,” and the award, which symbolizes the relationship between health care providers and the patients and families they serve, is presented each year to the single organization that promotes positive and effective partnering in pursuit of improved patient safety. Patricia Sodomka, Senior Vice President of Patient- and Family-Centered Care, accepted the award on behalf of MCGHealth at the May 2009 NPSF Congress.

Collaborative partnerships among care providers, patients, and families are evident throughout MCGHealth, ensuring that the principles of patient- and family-centered care are embedded in the organization’s culture. MCGHealth, and the ground-breaking research work conducted at its Center for Patient- and Family-Centered Care, has received recognition both nationally and internationally. The nationally acclaimed 2006 series Remaking American Medicine featured MCG’s innovative work in patient- and family-centered care.

“MCGHealth’s work in patient- and family-centered care clearly demonstrates their deep understanding of the critical role patient and family advisors play in developing programs that result in the highest level of patient safety,” said Diane C. Pinakiewicz, President of NPSF. “We couldn’t be more pleased to honor MCGHealth this year.”

Learn more about MCGHealth.

The Institute is proud to announce that continuing education credits are available for nurses, physicians, and social workers attending The 4th International Conference on Patient- and Family-Centered Care.

To be eligible, participants requesting continuing education certificates must complete the online evaluation no later than September 14—the online evaluation will not be accessible after this date. Candidates requesting continuing education credits must attend the full conference as partial credit cannot be awarded. Participants are asked to verify contact information at the registration desk so certificates can be emailed after the seminar.

Nursing:
This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This activity has been awarded 21.5 contact hours.

Physicians:
This activity has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 19.00 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Social Workers:
This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Provider #886381593) for 21.25 continuing education contact hours.

General Certificates of Attendance will be available upon request and will be submitted electronically after the conference.

Pre-Conference Networking—Visit the Institute Facebook Page

The Institute has received requests from Conference participants who are looking to share a room in Philadelphia in order to defray expenses. Others are looking for a scrumptious Philadelphia restaurant recommendation. Start networking early: visit the Institute's Facebook page and write on our wall; you'll be amazed at who you'll meet! 

Federal Health Care Reform

Health Care Reform is getting a lot of press these days. Many know that the system is broken, but how will it be fixed?

President Obama is committed to working with Congress to pass comprehensive health reform this year in order to "control rising health care costs, guarantee choice of doctor, and assure high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans." Learn more about the Obama administration's plans for health care reform.