New guidance materials promote family-centered change in health care institutions

Nurses can play an important role as effective change agents in helping health care agencies and institutions recognize the need to move to more family-centered models, understand the benefits of a family-centered approach, and develop strategies for implementing family-centered care. The Institute for Family-Centered Care has identified a number of areas in which many institutions wish to make changes and has been developing guidance materials that explore possibilities, highlight hospitals that have incorporated changes, and provide practical strategies and useful materials to facilitate change. Topics covered in these guidance resources include the following: Developing Family-Centered Vision, Mission, and Philosophy of Care Statements; Developing and Sustaining a Patient and Family Advisory Council; Collaborative Design Planning; Creating Children's Advisory Councils; Creating and Enhancing Patient and Family Resource Centers; Creating Patient and Family Faculty Programs; Working with Seniors and their Families to Enhance Geriatric Care; and Changing Visiting Practices--Families as Partners.