Lions Gate Hospital named one of Canada’s most welcoming of patient visitors
Lions Gate Hospital was named one of the 30 most welcoming of visitors in the country last week. So says a study by the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI), which surveyed 114 acute care facilities across the country. Of the 30 hospitals that topped the list, 14 are in B.C.
The report, by the not-for-profit CFHI, conducted what is said to be the first-ever study into “the willingness of 114 acute care Canadian hospitals to allow visits by family members and loved ones during morning and evening hours.” The report’s full title is Much More Than Just a Visit: A Review of Visiting Policies in Select Canadian Acute Care Hospitals.
According to CFHI, isolating patients from those who know them best can increase the chances of adverse events, emotional distress or a less satisfying care experience. The presence of family and loved ones can improve patient experiences and health outcomes (healing).
Flexible visiting hours lead to better health
“Lions Gate Hospital has always taken a welcoming approach to patient visitors,” says Michelle Stanton, Interim Acute Director, noting that “flexible visiting hours support the family-centered care approach in place at LGH.”
“This enables the patients and their families to be involved in all aspects of a patient’s health care journey.”
Having family members present provides patients with a support network and allows health care staff to be able to gain valuable information about a patient’s normal condition at home.
“In the case of some patients who require help with daily activities, having a family member provide this is often less stressful for the patient and is often very fulfilling for the family to be an active part of the care,” says Michelle.
The study’s release coincided with the launch of the CFHI’s national campaign called Better Together: Partnering with Families, which encourages hospitals to review their policies with a view to adopting family presence policies. These policies/guidelines enable patients to designate family members and loved ones who can stay by their side 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Adopting the family presence policy innovation creates a more welcoming environment for family and loved ones and is a practical step hospitals can take to make the care they provide more patient- and family-centred, the study noted.
CFHI is supported in this campaign by a dozen leading healthcare organizations and is partnering with the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC), which has set a goal of getting 1,000 hospitals in North America to adopt family presence policies by 2017.
For more information, please visit http://www.cfhi-fcass.ca/BetterTogether.