Pushing for family-centered hospital care

Posted on May 7, 2015 by jeffcuz

Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m passionate about two things in life: My family and the care my son receives at Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando.

We spend a great deal of time at the hospital — both inpatient and outpatient — enough so that I was asked to join the Family Advisory Council several years ago.

Town Hall — The Florida Hospital for Children Family Advisory Council talks to staff during a town hall meeting.

What struck me immediately about being on the committee was the responsiveness of the hospital to our recommendations — as well as the way they sought us out with questions about changes and care.

While serving on the council, I’ve had opportunities to talk to hospital leaders, assist them with getting national awards, attend hospital summits and play a key role on councils.

I’ve served on the Nursing Governance Council and more recently joined the Patient Safety and Quality Committee.

What I’ve seen in my work at the hospital is a continuous desire to improve care and be sure families play a major role in the decisions about the patients.

The staff has the utmost dedication to the children and teenagers being treated at the hospital, and it’s all done with the leadership of Marla Silliman, the hospital’s senior executive officer, who is truly inspiring to the staff.

At quarterly town-hall meetings of the hospital staff, Silliman meets with large groups of employees over several days to make sure everyone hears the latest news about the hospital, its goals, changes and a review of performance. She has the ability to inspire and make those who work at the hospital really strive for perfection, which is vital in the healthcare field.

Silliman will sit down with the members of the Family Advisory Council for a second time Monday. We’ll enjoy dinner together, and I’m sure she’ll bring that innate ability to inspire to our group, as well.

I’m humbled and grateful that she makes the time to join us, and it just shows that the push for family-centered care goes right to the top of the hospital administration.

It’s another reason why Florida Hospital was chosen by U.S. News and World Report as the No. 1 hospital in the state of Florida and why Florida Hospital for Children was the first pediatric hospital in Orlando to achieve magnet status.

It puts my mind and heart at ease every time J.P. requires medical care.