Paradigm Shifts in Inpatient Psychiatric Care of Children: Approaching Child-Centered and Family-Centered Care

2005

Child and family-centered care (FCC) is a valued model of care to which most nurses aspire. FCC is collaborative and respectful, is consistent with emerging values in healthcare, and is increasingly perceived to be essential to the provision of care for children. Outcomes research reveals that FCC practices increase patient and family satisfaction, decrease child and parent anxiety, facilitate more rapid recovery from medical procedures, have a positive impact on the mental health of mothers who have children with chronic illness, decrease health care costs, and increase staff satisfaction.This article provides an overview of the components of FCC and describes practice and policy shifts that an inpatient child psychiatric unit in Cambridge, MA underwent to deliver care that encompasses these principles. It also reviews some preliminary outcomes on the unit that point to the clinical utility of this approach.

Peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals Published/In Press

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