Family Centered Care (FCC)

What Is Family-Centered Care?

Family-centered care puts patients and families at the center of decisions. It rests on three principles: respect for values and preferences, collaboration between teams and families, and inclusion of families in planning and delivery. In practice, this means open information sharing, welcoming questions, and inviting families to engage at the bedside and beyond. These values guide our entire health system.

We define family broadly. Family may include parents, spouses, partners, children, siblings, extended relatives, close friends, caregivers, or any trusted support person identified by the patient. We honor diverse structures, cultural traditions, and spiritual practices, aligning care with what matters most to each person and their support network. When we say patient family, we mean the people you trust to support your wellbeing.

When families are engaged, quality and safety improve. Patients better understand their plans, experience fewer errors, and transition more smoothly. Families feel more confident and less stressed, with clear roles in recovery. Care teams gain richer context and stronger communication, which supports adherence, better outcomes, and fewer avoidable readmissions. This is why we champion family-centered care across all settings.
 

Core Concepts and Principles of Family Centered Care

Partnership and shared decision-making guide our approach. Clinicians contribute clinical expertise; patients and families share lived experience, preferences, and goals. Together, we make choices that reflect evidence and the patient’s values. We encourage family participation in rounds, welcome questions, and co-create goals that are realistic and meaningful.

Clear communication and transparency are essential. We provide timely, accurate information in plain language, review results, explain risks and benefits, and set expectations for next steps. We use teach-back to confirm understanding and make sure materials are easy to follow. When options are complex, we use shared decision tools so families fully understand each pathway.

Respect is the foundation. We honor privacy, cultural beliefs, language needs, and preferred ways of participating in care. We ask about routines, spiritual practices, and accessibility needs, integrating them into plans whenever possible. Our teams listen first, acknowledge concerns, and address barriers with empathy.
 

Practical Strategies for Implementing Family-Centered Care

From admission through discharge, we invite families into the process. On admission, we identify primary support persons and clarify involvement preferences. We review goals of care, outline milestones, and document who should receive updates. During the stay, families are encouraged to join bedside rounds, participate in care tasks when appropriate, and share information to inform decisions.

Our visiting guidelines promote meaningful presence while maintaining safety. We support flexible visiting hours, quiet times for rest, and accommodations for overnight stays when appropriate. Bedside involvement may include assisting with mobility, offering comfort measures, or learning new skills for home care—with training and supervision to ensure safety and confidence.

We use structured tools to strengthen understanding and decisions. Care conferences bring patients, families, nurses, physicians, therapists, and social workers together to align on goals, roles, and timelines. Teach-back confirms comprehension of medications, wound care, nutrition, and warning signs. Shared decision aids help compare options and select treatments that match patient priorities.
 

Family-Centered Care for Newborns and Across Settings

Family-centered care adapts to each setting—from pediatrics to adult medicine and end-of-life care. In pediatrics, parents and guardians are integral team members. In adult care, families clarify history, preferences, and baseline function. For chronic conditions, loved ones reinforce self-management, support remote monitoring, and aid medication adherence. In end-of-life care, families collaborate with palliative and hospice teams to prioritize comfort, dignity, and goals. In every environment, we center care around the patient and family.

At Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, our FCC team delivers comprehensive newborn care. The team includes pediatricians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, and lactation consultants, with pediatric therapists available on a consultative basis. Circumcisions are performed by our OB-GYN team. FCC staff provide daytime care, and NICU staff support overnight to ensure continuous coverage for every newborn and family.

We provide evidence-based, family-centered care during each nursery stay and coordinate a smooth transition to outpatient care. Education, lactation support, and organized follow-up help families feel confident at home. We are honored to support families during this special time and uphold family-centered care at every step.
 

Coordinated Transitions of Family Centered Care

Coordination across the continuum sustains family-centered care. We communicate with primary care, specialists, home health, rehabilitation, and community resources such as support groups and transportation. Discharge planning begins early, connects families to equipment, pharmacy services, and follow-up appointments, and includes clear plans for new or worsening symptoms. We ensure families know what to expect after leaving the hospital.

• Early discharge planning with clear roles and timelines
• Medication reconciliation and easy-to-read instructions
• Scheduling follow-up appointments before discharge
• Connections to community resources for ongoing support
• Direct lines for questions and urgent concerns after discharge
   

Access and Support for Diverse Families

We support diverse families with robust access services. Interpreters and translated materials are available for those with limited English proficiency. We tailor education to varying health literacy levels using plain language, visuals, and step-by-step guidance. We recognize chosen families and caregiving networks, documenting designated decision-makers and preferred contacts so everyone is informed and aligned.

Families can access a range of resources and services:

• Education at the bedside and via printed and digital materials
• Social work and case management for community and financial resources
• Advance care planning and document support
• Care navigators to coordinate appointments and transitions
• Chaplains and behavioral health services for emotional and spiritual care
   

Measuring Impact and Continuous Improvement

We track outcomes to learn and improve. Patient experience metrics capture communication, responsiveness, and respect. Clinical outcomes include length of stay, pain control, functional status, and adherence. We monitor readmissions, falls, infections, and medication safety events, and use real-time feedback from patients and families to drive improvements. Measurement helps us strengthen and sustain family-centered practices.