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Families are at the center of all we do here at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. That’s not just something we say, it’s who we are. This issue of Michigan Cares highlights our family−centered care philosophy and initiatives. Family−centered care is our commitment to delivering safe, effective, high quality health care that focuses on and adapts to the needs of patients and their families. It’s a cooperative effort between families and health care teams.
When the Leonard family welcomed their twins in 2004, they became part of the Mott family. One of their twins, Emma, was born with medical problems that required a long hospitalization and several surgeries. Their experience at Mott has left a lasting impression on the family and they, in turn, are leaving a lasting impression on Mott. Emma‘s dad, Craig, now works in fundraising for the U−M and Emma’s mom, Lisa, is part of the newly formed Patient and Family Advisory Council. This council provides a forum for patient families to have input into policy and program development.
Our family−centered approach extends to our medical students. Under the guidance of a program led by David S. Rosen, M.D., M.P.H., pediatric residents will evaluate the best approaches for delivering medical information to patient families. The results of their research will facilitate doctor−family communication in the years to come and ultimately result in better outcomes for patients.
Karen James has been able to turn the loss of her child into an opportunity to reach out to other families. The foundation created in her daughter’s memory, Leah‘s Happy Hearts, made the holidays a bit more cheerful for patients and their families who spent the holidays at Mott by providing an opportunity for those patients to "shop" for gifts
for their family members.
We are grateful to the families who have made University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital part of their families. Many of our patients and their families return to Mott to make a difference in the lives of other Mott patients and families. To them, we say thank you.
Sincerely,
Patricia A. Warner
Associate Hospital Director
Chief Administrative Officer
C.S. Mott Children's and Woman's Hospital
The University of Michigan Hospitals
and Health Centers
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