The Institute for Family-Centered Care is gearing up for The 4th International Conference on Patient- and Family-Centered Care to be held August 17–19, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. We are delighted to have leadership support from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

The 4th International Conference will include a wide array of exciting offerings. In addition to hearing keynote speakers and plenary sessions, participants will be able to choose from numerous cutting-edge breakout sessions. Along with the Exhibit Hall and Resources Booth, the Conference features special events, receptions, networking breakfasts, special interest meetings, and outings.

We received nearly 400 abstracts from 13 countries in response to the Call for Papers. The extreme high quality of the abstracts made the reviewing process a difficult yet delightful task! An external panel of expert reviewers evaluated the submissions.

The Conference will offer over a hundred excellent presentations—in oral, video, and poster format. Here is a sampling of some of the more than 30 substantive categories: Building the Business Case for Patient- and Family-Centered Care; Leadership for Organizational Change. . . READ MORE

The Hospitals and Communities Moving Forward with Patient- and Family-Centered Care Intensive Training Seminar in Boston, Massachusetts, March 2–5, 2009 was a great success. Despite a major East Coast snow storm, 253 participants attended, including 19 patient and family leaders and 16 physicians. Participants represented 75 health care organizations from 27 states, Canada, and South Korea.

Here are some comments from participants:

"Everything worked! I must congratulate you all on a really transformative experience . . . I was really able to take away advanced frameworks and concepts for organizational and cultural change."

"Really, the best conference I've ever attended. The material lends itself to this, but kudos to the faculty for really teaching in an effective, learner-centered environment."

"I no longer can proceed with how I do my work the way it used to be. The seminar opened my eyes on how to do things much differently."

"I feel I have a much more thorough understanding of the global movement toward collaborative practices in health care. The principles of care articulated by the Institute have implications well beyond the health care community. They are universal."

"The seminar was exceptional! I feel that it had a great impact on me both personally and professionally. Very thought provoking and moving."
 
"Day two left me very emotionally invested in making patient- and family-centered care a part of my practice."
 
"Everyone was very approachable, enthusiastic, and eager to share/help in any way possible. It was an incredible conference. Major kudos to everyone for pulling off a wonderful seminar."
 
"Very motivational, full of information, and resources."
 
"It was the best seminar I have ever attended."

"I went in to this seminar thinking we were doing okay with patient- and family-centered care, and came out thinking we could do better."

To learn more about our seminars, READ MORE . . .

In conjunction with the Institute's participation in Patient Safety Awareness Week, and the Institute's upcoming Webinar on Creating a Patient and Family Advisory Council, we are pleased to offer a special publication promotion on two related resources: Changing the Concept of Families as Visitors: Supporting Family Presence and Participation and Developing and Sustaining a Patient and Family Advisory Council.

The Institute for Family-Centered Care was happy to participate in Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 8–14, 2009, and is delighted that the National Patient Safety Foundation’s Patient Safety Awareness Week Toolkit, distributed free to Stand Up for Patient Safety members, includes the Institute's document Are Families Considered Visitors in Our Hospital or Unit?

The Institute offers a wide variety of other free downloadable PDFs for organizations and individuals to use to implement and advance the practice of patient- and family-centered care, and to foster the collaboration among health care providers, patients, and families.

The Institute also has a wide array of resources for sale on it's Resource page.

In conjunction with Patient Safety Awareness Week, the Institute is offering 10% off the publication Changing the Concept of Families as Visitors: Supporting Family Presence and Participation.

In celebration of the Institute's first Webinar—to be offered twice in April—the publication Developing and Sustaining a Patient and Family Advisory Council is on sale for $36.

To take advantage of these two special promotions, go to our Resource page, select Guidance Publications and Books, select one or both of the special offers. When you are ready to complete your order, go to the shopping cart page, enter promotion code "Patient Safety."  Don't delay. Special rate ends on April 30, 2009.

Are you thinking about starting a patient and family advisory council?

The Institute for Family-Centered Care is pleased to announce our first educational Webinar, beginning with the much-requested topic: Creating a Patient and Family Advisory Council. The Webinar will be offered twice in April. Choose either the first session on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 or the second session on Tuesday, April 28,2009, each at 1:00-2:30 p.m. (EST).

The fee is $249 per call-in line. If you are a Pinwheel Sponsor, the fee is $199 per call-in line. Individuals from Pinwheel Sponsor organizations can call the Institute to receive the Pinwheel special code. A group of individuals may participate on that one line for no additional charge. 

The Institute encourages the following to attend: health care administrators, directors and program coordinators charged with implementing patient- and family-centered care initiatives, and patient and family members who want to partner with health care professionals to improve quality and safety, and the patient experience of care.

Participants will receive a General Certificate of Participation for 1.5 hours. 

Registration is now open and space in limited.

The Institute is proud to announce the award of our first Pinwheel Sponsor Scholarship! South Shore Hospital, South Weymouth, MA, is our first Pinwheel Sponsor to benefit from the Institute's new Pinwheel Scholarship Program for Seminar registration, which allowed the hospital to send an additional representative to the Institute's Intensive Training Seminar held in Boston earlier this month. 

South Shore Hospital brought a team of 11 to the Seminar, showing a high level of commitment to advancing the practice of patient- and family-centered care. Congratulations!

The Institute plans to have another drawing for a Pinwheel Sponsor Scholarship for our Intensive Training Seminar to be held in Minneapolis in October. All Champion Pinwheel Sponsors will have the opportunity to participate in the drawing. The winner of the scholarship receives one complimentary registration fee; participants must provide for their own transportation, lodging, and other expenses.

Thanks to all our current Pinwheel Sponsors for their support.

If your organization is not yet a Pinwheel Sponsor, please consider joining us. Pinwheel Sponsorship provides many advantages, in addition to showing your commitment to the Institute’s mission to provide leadership to advance the understanding and practice of patient- and family-centered care. To learn more. . .

THANKS TO OUR BOSTON SEMINAR SPONSORS

The Institute again extends thanks to the five hospitals that provided leadership support for the Boston Seminar. A hearty "thank you" to:

Dana- Farber Cancer Institute

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Children's Hospital Boston

Massachusetts General Hospital