Developing a Decision Pathway for Family Presence During Resuscitation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Care
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The standard of care for family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) is evolving, necessitating institutional policies.
• While supported, FPDR practices were not standardized at this institution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To standardize the care of families during inpatient code blue events.
• To implement a patient-centered decision pathway for FPDR.

Main Methods:

• An interprofessional group developed a decision pathway for inpatient code blue events.
• The pathway was refined through simulation events, emphasizing the family facilitator role and teamwork.
• Pathway recommendations integrated current literature, expert consensus, and institutional regulations.

Main Results:

• The pathway is a patient-centered algorithm promoting safety and family autonomy.
• An on-call chaplain serves as the family facilitator for all code blue events.
• Staff reported positive effects on patient and family care one year post-implementation.
• Inpatient FPDR frequency did not increase.

Conclusions:

• The implemented decision pathway ensures FPDR is a safe and coordinated option.
• Standardization of FPDR improves patient and family experiences during critical events.