Increase Patient Experience Through Family Engagement

Increase Patient Experience Through Family Engagement

When patients are being treated either in the hospital or in longer-term situations, it’s not just the patient that is suffering. Family is often trying their hardest to keep control of the situation, but it’s difficult to keep your strength when so many are left in the dark - even the next of kin or direct family caregiver. The family’s encounters, but most notably the patient’s experience can increase through family engagement, involving family (especially caregivers) into patient-centred care, as part of the health care plan. 

Author and tragedy survivor, Brian Boyle, wrote in The Patient Experience Journal, “When you are focusing on the goals for the patient's recovery, the doctors work with the nurses, specialists, and patient’s family to decide on the appropriate care plan for the patient on both a short- and long-term basis. It is vital that this multi-disciplinary approach occurs during the formation of the care plan and is frequently updated as time goes on. The loved ones of a patient may not have a medical license or healthcare background, but their voice and presence matters in the hospital room.” 

Regardless of whether the patient is responsive to the family’s efforts, there is still evidence that it aids in their experience. Take Boyle, for example, who also writes in the above article for much of his medically induced coma, he could hear and see what was going on around him and tried desperately to give his family signs that he was okay. Despite his own distress, he ached to aid their own. 

It’s possible that physicians and other clinicians may focus on their own plan that they may misunderstand the particular needs of the patient. Through setting a care plan that incorporates every interested family member, each person becomes involved in the conversation, determining each party’s needs, notice any care gaps and aid in building opportunities for the improvement of the care plan and the health of the affected family member.

Encouraging family members to be active in a patient’s care can even avoid possible concerns and ensure all instructions delivered by physicians and staff are understood completely. “Having a family member aware of treatment plans is an important method for ensuring that medications aren’t mismanaged or that the patient remains comfortable and receives logistical support that can prevent adverse safety events. In some cases...empowering family caregivers can prevent death or other irreparable damage,” says an article on Patient Engagement Hit.

Interested in learning more about eFamily Room and how it aids in maintaining communication with every family member on the health and particulars of a loved one’s care plan, watch our informational videos on Youtube.