Email Updates
Download 
Beverley H. Johnson is the president and CEO of the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC). We spoke to her about her experience in patient and family engagement and improving patient... Read More
This piece discusses how family presence and participation in healthcare at all levels can improve patient safety as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic affected partnership with patients and families, ultimately highlighting the critical importance of family presence... Read More
A 2-year-old girl presented to her pediatrician with a cough, runny nose, low grade fever and fatigue; a nasal swab for... Read More
A 76-year-old was readmitted for altered mental status after a recent hospitalization. He was experiencing hypoxia and... Read More
A 76-year-old was readmitted for altered mental status after a recent hospitalization. He was experiencing hypoxia and required supplemental oxygen but was intermittently combative, repeatedly asked to go home and declined most medical interventions. His family, who lived a few hours away, acted as his medical decision-makers but were not able to travel to the hospital to see him. A treating clinician documented a discussion where the patient agreed to hospice enrollment however the palliative medicine consultant determined that he did not have capacity to make decisions due to delirium, nor was he clearly eligible for hospice. The care team and the patient’s family decided to continue to treat the patient’s underlying medical issues and to wait to see if his delirium improved. In subsequent days, the patient's mental status improved, and he was able to express opposition to hospice care. He was then transferred to a skilled nursing facility near his family for rehabilitation. The commentary discusses the importance of prompt identification and treatment of delirium, the role of shared decision-making with patients and their caregivers, and how clinicians should assess and address decisional capacity
This piece discusses how family presence and participation in healthcare at all levels can improve patient safety as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic affected partnership with patients and families, ultimately highlighting the critical importance of family presence and participation.
Beverley H. Johnson is the president and CEO of the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC). We spoke to her about her experience in patient and family engagement and improving patient safety, including how to continue to partner with families during pandemics and through technology.
Beverley H. Johnson is the president and CEO of the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC). We spoke to her about her experience in patient and family engagement and improving patient safety, including how to continue to partner with families during pandemics and through technology.
A 2-year-old girl presented to her pediatrician with a cough, runny nose, low grade fever and fatigue; a nasal swab for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza was negative and lung sounds were clear. The patient developed a fever and labored breathing and was taken to the Emergency Department (ED) before being admitted to the hospital. She developed respiratory distress and clinically worsened over time until she developed respiratory failure requiring air transportation to the pediatric intensive care unit at a children’s hospital. She was ultimately diagnosed with adenovirus after developing conjunctivitis and bronchiolitis. After 3 days of continuous monitoring and treatment in the PICU, the patient was alert, responsive, and hungry. She was taken off supplemental oxygen after about 24 more hours, transferred to a regular pediatric bed, and then discharged to outpatient follow-up care. The commentary addresses patient safety risks associated with pediatric interfacility transfers and strategies to mitigate preventable harms due to poor provider-provider communication, provider-family communication, and family engagement.
