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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May 2021 Edition
Innovative Approach to Information Sharing
What is the best way to provide patients and families with timely and accurate information about cast care – especially during a pandemic when fracture care visits are often virtual?

A team from the Pediatric Fracture Clinic with the assistance of two medical students set out to research the possibilities and came up with the idea of creating a video (Frequently Asked Questions for families on Cast Care) that they could access via a QR Code. With the support of Ion Robu, Bio Equipment Tech at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, a washable sticker version of this QR Code was created that could be directly adhered to the cast.

The code links to an animated video that was written by Dr. Fabio Ferri-de-Barros and colleagues. The QR code is an efficient delivery model and the animated videos are more engaging as compared to paper handouts.

A QR code and an animated video are also being used to support primary care physicians in accessing accurate succinct information on scoliosis care. This video is being promoted by the Canadian Society of Spine Surgery (CSS) and by the Brazilian Society of Spine Surgery (SBC). Many thanks to AHS Digital Media Services for housing these videos and generating the QR Codes that support them. 
What Matters to You - June 9th
It’s a simple question that can have a big impact…

Tuesday, June 9th ask

On Tuesday, June 9th join ACH’s Senior Leadership, Margaret Fullerton, Dr. Jennifer Macpherson, Jill Woodward, and Natasha Tiemstra (from top left to lower right) in the What Matters to You (WMTY) Day. The WMTY campaign is a worldwide movement putting the patient voice at the center of care, encouraging and supporting meaningful conversations between the patients and families who receive healthcare, and the staff, physicians and volunteers who provide it.
 
Taking part is easy! It includes three simple steps:
1) Ask what matters
2) Listen to what matters
3) Do what matters.
 
Ask what matters… we encourage you to embed this question into your practice each and every day

Start by having conversations about what matters… 
Healthcare Providers
Ask your patients and families “What are the things that are important to you at the moment?” or “What can I do to best support you in your care today?” encourage you to embed this into your practice each day. 
Patients & Families
Reflect on what matters to you and share it with your healthcare team. 
Listen to what matters…
Listen with the intent of gaining a better understanding of what is important to patients and families. With this crucial insight, we are in a much better position to partner with patients in their care journey.  

Do what matters…
Providing care that focuses on the needs of patients and families leads to stronger partnerships, improved treatment and health outcomes, patient safety, and an overall better care experience.
 
If your area would like help coming up with ideas to participate, please email the ACH’s PFCC Team. For more information, a variety of resources and inspiration go to AHS What Matters to You? or BC Patient Safety & Quality Council.
 
We would love to hear What Matters to You? On June 9th join the conversation and share your experiences and photos on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using #wmtyAB. 
Info for Teens and their families on COVID Vaccines
This ACH podcast provides info for teens on needle pain and fear.
This ACH podcast answers teen questions on getting the vaccine.
Click here for a link to resources for teens on
COVID vaccines.
Podcast - Being a Troublemaker in Patient Engagement
In this podcast, Calgary Zone Patient & Family Centred Care consultant Kristy Leavitt has a candid discussion with AHS Patient/Family Advisors Maya Pajevic and Marisa Vigna (former CAYAC members) about why meaningful patient engagement matters, what tokenistic engagement looks like (and why it’s a problem), and much more.