Partnership between parents/caregivers and pediatricians when children are hospitalized: Parents' perspective

The relationship between children's caregivers and pediatricians is both complex and critical to the well-being of patients. A strong partnership has been shown to improve children's health outcomes 1. Patient and family engagement has been defined as patients, families/guardians, and health care professionals working together in an active partnership to improve patients' health outcomes 1. The caregiver and pediatric clinician partnership has been examined for children in outpatient settings 2. However, the partnership between children's caregivers and pediatric hospitalists, has not been carefully examined 2. The partnership between children's caregiver and pediatrician is especially challenging in the inpatient setting as the initial therapeutic relationship is often established during a time of acute stress for the family. Further investigation and analysis of this partnership will offer key insights into the therapeutic relationships, patient care and safety, and the overall patient/family experience in the inpatient environment.