Youth and Family Advisory Councils End of Year Impact Report September-July 2019
The Councils at a Glance The Mount Sinai Youth Advisory Council (YAC), established in 2015, enhances the delivery of pediatric care by recognizing and addressing the specific needs of our youth population. Now in its fourth year, the YAC is comprised of members ranging in age from 13 to 20, all of whom have experienced multiple admissions at Kravis Children’s Hospital. Monthly council meetings, facilitated by Morgan Stojanowski, Child Life Specialist, and Nina Connors, Social Worker, empower members to collaborate on a range of patient -care projects and bring actionable recommendations to improve the patient experience. The Family Advisory Council (FAC), established in 2009, works jointly with leadership and interdisciplinary staff to ensure the delivery of the highest standard of comprehensive and compassionate health care. The FAC, facilitated by Cheryl Strauss, Child Life Specialist, and Andrea Johnston, Senior Parent Advisor, meets monthly to work on a variety of hospital projects affecting the patient and family experience. The NICU Family Advisory Council, established in 2017, aligns with the patient and family engagement work of the Youth and Family Advisory Councils, providing the parental perspective on initiatives and projects within the NICU setting. The NICU FAC also facilitates regular caregiver events, focusing on the wellness of the caregiver. Monthly meetings are co-facilitated by Lindsay Davis, Child Life Specialist, and Jill Winston, Social Worker.
Promoting Family Education in the NICU
Actions Toward Advancing Patient and Family-Centered Care
Provided feedback on architectural design plans to enhance the appearance and functionality of the children’s hospital lobby. Made recommendations to improve the key drivers most highly correlated with Press Ganey patient satisfaction ratings: teamwork, responsiveness to concerns, and respect for parents’ knowledge of their children. Partnered with medical leadership to develop initiatives that support patients and families in the pediatric emergency room. Recommended content for the creation of a comprehensive pediatric welcome packet. Generated ideas and input to enhance various Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy programs, including KidZone TV, robot based activities, and creative arts experiences. Evaluated the existing treatment room on P5 and offered insight into the room’s renovation plan with a focus on promoting a sense of calm, safety, and choice for patients and families. Provided input regarding patient and caregiver access to MyChart in the inpatient environment. Joni and Eric Choi, parent and youth advisors respectively, volunteered to serve on an ongoing MyChart work group. Welcomed esteemed leadership and staff as guest presenters including, Dr. David Reich; Dr. Lisa Satlin; Dr. Anne Reilly; Dr. Christopher Strother; Dr. Steven Yung; Dr. Nell Hodo; Jonathan Kyriacou; Ellen Black-Kurzrok, RN; MaKaya Saulsberry, MPH; Lu Borges; Mathea Jacobs; Nicole Woods CCLS; Katherine Parker, LCAT; Alexandra Jamison, CTRS; Jacklyn Damiano, LCAT; Melody Eaton, project coordinator.
Met with Medical Director Dr. Courtney Juliano to discuss the donor breast milk program, generating ideas on how to support breastfeeding in the NICU and giving suggestions on how to improve the pumping room from a parent perspective.
Reviewed content for an informational booklet for caregivers on bonding with their baby in the NICU and gave suggestions on how to make it more family centered and specific to our hospital.
Reviewed and edited scripts for a series of three educational videos for NICU caregivers: introducing them to the NICU environment, educating them about breastfeeding and nutrition in the NICU, and preparing them for discharge.
Welcomed Dr. Sarah Millburn, director of the Newborn Nursery, to provide feedback on a revised discharge summary to be used for infants after their birth.
Youth and Family Advisors Engage in Quality and Safety Work
Senior parent advisors Jo Murray and Andrea Johnston attended the regional SPS meeting. Both Advisors brought back innovative ways to engage patients and families in the quality and safety culture of Kravis Children’s Hospital. Parent and Youth Advisors worked with nursing leadership to create an education tool for patients and families about Central Lines. By understanding the standards of care related to the cleaning and accessing of central lines, patients and caregivers can best partner with medical staff to promote safety and quality. The Youth and Family Advisory Councils participated in the hospital wide “Error Prevention Techniques” training. Advisors learned the various communication tools being rolled out to staff and recommended innovative ways to share these tools with patients and family members. Parent advisors provided input in the selection of educational material to inform parents of infants about safe sleep practices. Parent advisors Josanne Archibald and Evelyn Zambrano partnered with the health system’s Department of Strategic Operations and Implementation on a process improvement initiative to enhance the Pediatric ED admission experience. Senior Parent Advisors continued to serve on a variety of HAC teams, including CLABSI, 7 Day Readmissions and Pressure Injury.
Councils Provide Unique Opportunities for Caregiver Wellness Members of the NICU FAC hosted 12 Coffee Nights and four holiday celebrations for caregivers in the NICU. The advisors provided direct peer-to-peer support for families during their NICU experience and helped them celebrate their babies’ first holidays.
In recognition of Mother’s Day, parent advisors on the FAC worked together to create handmade key chains with inspirational messages. Made with care, from one parent to another, these gifts were placed in the Child Life Zone’s Family Corner for access to parents in the children’s hospital.
Patient and Family Engagement Committee:
Diane Rode, Director of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Morgan Stojanowski, Assistant Director of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Nina Connors, Pediatric Oncology Social Worker Cheryl Strauss, Senior Child Life Specialist Charles Ennis, Senior Director of Women and Children’s Services Lindsay Davis, NICU Child Life Specialist Juliana Horn, Clinical Nurse Manager Dr. Steven Yung, Medical Director of Pediatric Quality and Safety
Carlie Regis, Clinical Nurse Manger Jennifer Kero, Pediatric Quality and Safety Coordinator Jo Murray, Senior Parent Advisor Andrea Johnston, Senior Parent Advisor Dr. Laura Hodo, Inpatient Quality Director, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Rafael Acal Jimenez, Associate Director of Nursing Women and Children’s Services Patrice Burke, Nurse Educator
For more information, please contact morgan.stojanowski@mountsinai.org or cheryl.strauss@mountsinai.org.