SHA Family Presence Expert Panel wins 2022 Partnership Award
The Institute for Patient and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC) has named the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Family Presence Expert Panel as its winner of the 2022 Partnership Award. For the past 30 years, the IPFCC has given this award to recognize innovative partnerships among patients, families and health-care professionals.
The Family Presence Expert Panel (FPEP) was created in response to the impact that COVID-19 family presence and visitation restrictions had on long-term care residents and acute care patients throughout Saskatchewan. The panel is made of health-care professionals, leaders, and resident and family partners who are determined to address isolation, loneliness, and loss of family support that patients and residents of long-term care homes faced.
The panel provides and promotes ways to enhance family presence and partnership through broad collaboration and consultation. Their policy ensures that at least one family member/friend or care partner is part of front-line care for each resident and patient. The panelists recognize that these are essential care partners, not just visitors. Residents rely on daily interactions as part of their health journey.
The IPFCC is a central resource to promote the practice of patient and family centered care by promoting the partnership between all those involved. The President and CEO of IPFCC, Beverley H. Johnson, says “We need patients and families as true partners at every level, in every setting of care as we navigate these challenging times.”
The FPEP, led by the SHA Patient and Client Experience portfolio, has worked in partnership with front-line teams, leaders, patients, residents and families to ensure that families are present to support the care of their loved ones. The work is ongoing and continues to address any new challenges.
One of the panel members, Kevin Belitski, explains “It is a group that has the power to influence health policy and create the guidelines necessary to ensure consistent approaches for delivering open-family presence across the province, while keeping everyone safe.”
SHA Family Presence Expert Panel meets over Webex