New Care Kiosk offers resources for patient support
The Patient and Family Advisory Council helped develop a tool that encouraged family members and loved ones to become part of the care team. The kiosk includes six brochures to help care partners become more informed and help advocate for the best possible care during their loved one's stay at the hospital, at discharge and at home. The brochure topics include:
- Take Good Notes
- Help Prevent Infection
- Help Prevent Falls
- Keep Track of Medications
- Know Signs of Trouble
- Plan for Care After Leaving
The goal of the kiosk is to ensure better outcomes for patients by involving the family and also reduce readmission. Funded by the Barton Foundation, the kiosk and brochures are located across the hall from the Family Waiting Room on the second floor of Barton Memorial Hospital. These resources allow patients' families and caregivers to take part in the care process. Outcomes improve when patients have the right support to heal, and these tools provide a guideline for family members and caregivers to be an active and informed care partner.
The Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) partners patients and families with members of the healthcare team to provide guidance on how to improve the patient and family experience. As part of this PFAC process, patients and families are invited to serve on hospital committees to ensure that the consumer’s point of view, perspective, and experience are not only heard, but also integrated into the service and quality improvements that are engineered to ensure high-quality, customer-centered care. Through their unique perspectives, they give input on issues that impact care, ensuring that the next patient or family member’s journey is easier.