The evolution of a surgical liaison program in a children's hospital

Surgical liaison nurses use clear communication to provide timely reports to family members about their loved one during the time the patient is in the OR. The surgical liaison program at the Children's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts, has evolved over time. It began as nurses supervising brief family member visits to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and has become a program in which surgical liaison nurses work with OR and PACU staff members to access and provide patient-specific information to families throughout the surgical time period and prepare families for extended visits to the PACU. In addition, we redesigned our surgical department by expanding its size, locating it closer to the OR and PACU, and providing more amenities to family members. A survey conducted to assess family member needs found that most people were satisfied with the services provided, and we were able to make improvements to services based on the survey feedback.