Framework for patient, family-centred care within an Australian Community Hospital: development and description

To describe the development of a patient and family-centred care (PFCC) conceptual framework within a small community Australian Hospital.

A scoping review of scientific and grey literature and community hospital stakeholder discussions were used to identify and design a conceptual framework for PFCC across five core pillars of leadership, engagement, service delivery, learning and environment.

107 publications were identified and 76 were included for data extraction. A draft framework was constructed and modified following consultation with hospital stakeholders across a small Australian Community Hospital. The 'Caring Together' framework outlines three core layers: (1) the focus of our care is the experiences of our consumers and staff; (2) concepts of leadership, environment, service delivery, engagement and learning; and (3) the overarching fundamental values of being heard, respected, valued and supported by staff and consumers at all levels in an organisation.

The conceptual Caring Together framework structures key PFCC concepts across organisational priority areas within an Australian healthcare setting and can be used to guide implementation of PFCC at other small hospital facilities. Changes to national and state healthcare funding may help facilitate improved hospital facility implementation of PFCC, and ultimately improve consumer healthcare satisfaction and clinical outcomes.