PFCC - Newsletter

You can learn about Patient and Family Centred Care activities at Alberta Children's Hospital by reading our monthly e-newsletter - Together We're Better. This newsletter will give you insight into Family Centred Care Initiatives, profile our Family Centred Care champions, and keep you up to date on upcoming education opportunities. Archived copies are available on the FCRC website.

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October 2019 Edition Advisor Profile - Julie Burghardt Meet Julie, she is an environmental engineer and she lives in Calgary with her husband and daughter. The Burghardt-MacPhail family became frequent visitors to ACH in 2016 when their daughter Sybill was born. Sybill has a rare genetic deletion syndrome called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Julie joined the Family Advisory Council (FAC) in 2018 to help make ACH the best place it can be for Sybill and other kids. “As a parent of a special needs child you often feel like you are helpless in being able to improve their situation. This is one small thing I could do to make myself feel like I am making a meaningful difference in her life” – Julie. Before starting on the Family Advisory Council, Julie was somewhat skeptical that the family perspective actually mattered to those in decision making roles. She has since been completely blown away by the number of different groups and areas of the hospital that want feedback from FAC and how their input has been used to make meaningful changes and improvements. Julie enjoyed her experience on the council so much that she volunteered to be a co-chair of the FAC and she is looking forward to continuing in this role for the next two years. When asked whether she has any message for other family members who might be interested in volunteering, she indicated that “If you are looking for a way to make a meaningful difference but don't have a lot of time, consider joining the council! It is also a great way to meet other people that share similar stories.” Learning Opportunities Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019 – Noon to 1.00 pm in ACH Room B2-200   When PFCC is HARD: Strategies & supports for navigating challenging situations   Patient Story: Heather Lucier, Family Advisor Panel: Heather Lucier, Family Advisor Kerri Kroeker, Spirtual Health Practitioner, RGH Chris Murray, UM, Nephrology & Transplant, FMC Jill Congram, RN, Neuro Rehab, FMC Jackie Dittmer, RN, Patient Concerns Consultant   Patient and Family Centred Care leads to a multitude of benefits, but how do we live out PFCC when it is hard?  Join a candid conversation about how to provide patient and family centred care during challenging situations. You will hear the story of one family’s healthcare experience and a panel discussion about challenges commonly experienced in health care. This learning opportunity will leave you with practical strategies and supports to help you navigate challenging scenarios with PFCC.   Everyone welcome to attend. Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 – Noon to 1.00 pm in ACH Conf. Room 6   Hands On/Hands Off: The Importance of Touch in Clinical Care   Please join us as Dr. Martina Kelly shares the power of physical touch in clinical care. Through her experience as a family physician, Dr. Kelly has witnessed the importance of touch in creating meaningful connections between healthcare providers and patients. Dr. Kelly will also speak about navigating the use of technology so it can enhance, not hinder, communication and connection, and navigating physical touch in hands-on care in light of professional practice boundaries. The Human Connection in Healthcare Patient and Family Centred Care Week 2019 PFCC Week is Coming November 4 to 8th, 2019! Join in during the week’s events, which focus on this year's theme - The Human Connection in Healthcare. Visit our website for full details.  Check out our new PFCC Week video! We asked patients, families, staff, our ACH Advisory Councils, and volunteers at the Alberta Children's Hospital about the importance of human connections in healthcare. Click here to view. We encourage you to share it with others. Thanks to everyone who participated!    PFCC Week Kick-Off - Monday, November 4th Don't miss the launch of the week in the main gathering space (cafeteria) on Monday, November 4th at lunchtime. Cake will be served.  PFCC Week Celebration - Friday, November 8th Our week will close with a celebration from 12:00-1:00pm (presentations from 12:15-12:45) in Conference Room 6 on the 4th floor. Come and celebrate our PFCC Week nominated champions, hear patient and family stories of human connection and find out who won the Team Challenge! Light refreshments will be served.  The Human Connection Nominations Calling all patients, families, and caregivers! Help us recognize the Human Connection at the Alberta Children's Hospital* by nominating an individual who made you feel seen, heard, valued, understood, or supported. You can nominate any staff (clinical and non-clinical), physician, or volunteer who made even a small difference.  We will present nominees with a "PFCC Week 2019 – The Human Connection Staff Champion" button to wear during the week. They will also be acknowledged at the PFCC Week Celebration Event.  Think of the little moments here at the Alberta Children's Hospital when someone’s kindness and/or action made a difference for you or your family. To submit your nomination, either fill out the nomination form or email us with your nomination information at achpfcc@ahs.ca. You are welcome to nominate more than one person.  *Alberta Children’s Hospital includes the Child Development Centre and the Rotary Flames House. Engagement Tip for Everyone! How to make a positive connection with someone in < 30 seconds: smile make eye contact use the person’s name (where possible) Although these seem like very simple behaviours, they can make a huge difference in someone’s day and are also known to improve patient satisfaction in a clinical setting.   Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com