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A discussion of family-centered care within the pediatric intensive care unit
Angela Frazier1, Heath Frazier, Nancy A Warren
1Department of Nursing, University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN 38238, USA.
Insights
Family-centered care in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is evolving, shifting from restrictive policies to active family involvement. This approach integrates families as essential team members in patient care and decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Critical Care Medicine
- Family Studies
Background:
- Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) historically had restrictive visitation policies, limiting family presence and involvement.
- Child hospitalization is a significant source of stress for patients and their families.
- There is a growing trend of children with chronic illnesses requiring repeated PICU admissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To promote discussion and adoption of family-centered care models in PICUs.
- To highlight the benefits of integrating families into the pediatric intensive care environment.
- To advocate for policy changes supporting active family participation in child patient care.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical and current trends in PICU visitation and family involvement policies.
- Analysis of the shift towards family-centered care principles.
- Discussion of environmental modifications in PICUs to accommodate family presence.
Main Results:
- PICU policies are increasingly moving towards open visitation and active family participation.
- Hospitals are adapting physical spaces to better support parental involvement and overnight stays.
- Families are increasingly viewed as integral members of the healthcare team, involved in decision-making.
Conclusions:
- Family-centered care enhances the PICU experience for children and their families.
- Active family involvement is crucial for improving patient outcomes and family well-being.
- Continued dialogue and implementation of family-centered care are essential for modern PICUs.
Abstract:
Every year, thousands of children are admitted to pediatric intensive care for treatment. Many of these admissions are for acute injuries, but children with chronic illnesses requiring repeated hospitalization are also on the rise. Hospitalization of a child is extremely stressful for both the patient and family. Historically, intensive care units had restrictive visitation hours and did not allow for sibling visitation or multiple family members. Parents and family members were not encouraged to participate in care when at the bedside. As the shift toward family-centered care continues, many hospitals are now changing visitation policies to allow for active family involvement in patient care. Parents are now encouraged to participate in care. Intensive care units are modifying layouts of the unit to facilitate visitors and provide sleeping spaces for parents when available. Families are considered part of the team instead of visitors, and are included in the decision making process. The purpose of this article is to promote discussion of family-centered care in the pediatric intensive care unit.
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