Family Advisory Council Current Projects and Initiatives
Current Projects
Focusing on continuity of care to ensure the needs of patients and families are met
Concentrating on making the electronic medical record user-friendly, streamlined, and patient- and family-centered
Addressing amenity needs of families such as parking and meals
Improving the variety of therapies offered to patients
Expanding the Child Life program
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital's visibility and pediatric outreach
Addressing issues of race and poverty among patients and staff
Accomplishments
Created in 1998, the Family Advisory Council gives families a voice in hospital policies and operations
Instituted train-the-trainer sessions for hospital faculty and staff on the principles of family-centered care
Created tools to help families communicate and advocate more effectively, including easier to read forms, white boards in patient rooms, etc.
Facility design volunteers helped with unit renovations and handicap accessible playground design
Revised the hospital family guides in all inpatient rooms
Advocated for and effectively partnered with administration to create a full-time staff position dedicated to advancing the principles of patient- and family-centered care throughout UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital
Developed an A La Carte food menu in partnership with Food and Nutrition Services
Added patient- and family-centered care training to pediatric residents' orientation
