Family Centered Care

Patient- and family-centered care is an innovative approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care that is grounded in a mutually beneficial partnership among patients, families, and providers that recognizes the importance of the family* in the patient’s life. When patient- and family-centered care is practiced it shapes health care policies, programs, facility design, evaluation of health care, and day-to-day interactions among patients, families, physicians, and other health care professionals. Health care professionals who practice patient- and family-centered care recognize the vital role that families play in ensuring the health and well-being of children† and family members of all ages. These practitioners acknowledge

It should be noted that the term “family-centered care,” is replaced with the term “patient- and family-centered care,” to more explicitly capture the importance of engaging the family and the patient in a developmentally supportive manner as essential members of the health care team. Patient- and family-centered care in pediatrics is based on the understanding that the family is the child’s primary source of strength and support and that the child’s and family’s perspectives and information are important in clinical decision-making. Practitioners of patient- and family-centered care are keenly aware that positive health care experiences in provider/family partnerships can enhance parents’ confidence in their roles and, over time, increase the competence of children and young adults to take responsibility for their own health care, particularly in anticipation of the transition to adult service

Core Principles of Patient- and Family-Centered Care

Patient- and family-centered care is grounded in collaboration among patients, families, physicians, nurses, and other professionals in clinical care as well as for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care, and in the education of health care professionals and in research, as well. These collaborative relationships are guided by the following principles:

Listening to and respecting each child and his or her family. Honoring racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic background and patient and family experiences and incorporating them in accordance with patient and family preference into the planning and delivery of health