Patient and Family Centered Care: Practices in Pediatrics

Abstract

Patient and Family Centered Care is an approach to planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care that
is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among health care providers, patients, and families. In
pediatrics, Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) is based on the understanding that the family is the
child’s primary source of strength and support. Respect each child and his/her family, ensuring flexibility
in organizational policies, procedures, and provider’s practices, sharing complete, honest, and unbiased
information with patients and their families, providing formal and informal support for the child and family,
collaborating with patients and families at all levels of health care and recognizing and building on the
strengths of individual children and families are the principles of PFCC. This approach is not only beneficial
for patient and family but also for health care providers.