Engaging the Family, The Family Conference
- Author:
Tay Wei Yi
;
Low Lian Leng
;
Tan Yew Seng
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Family Conference;
Engagement;
Group Meeting;
Discharge Planning;
Caregivers
- From:The Singapore Family Physician
2015;41(1):28-31
- CountrySingapore
-
Abstract:
Family engagement should be part of a holistic management of any patient. This is especially so in patients who have an acute change in their health condition or function that stresses their social setup. Conducting a family conference is one of the many ways to engage patients and their caregivers and address their bio-psycho-social needs. It is a focused and purposeful approach that engages every member of the health care team and family members in facilitating a common understanding and decision-making with the aim of improving patient care and outcome. A family conference is resource intensive, and should be planned well to maximise the goals that it was set out to achieve. This article was written as a primer to help family physicians understand the indications, preparations needed, and steps to take in conducting a family conference. To facilitate a family conference confidently is a skill and an art that requires practice and constant refinement.
