A recommendation from the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement has been adopted by the Sun Country Health Region.
On Dec. 1, during their regular open business session, the board of directors in Sun Country approved the move to offer 24-hour visiting for all patients, residents and clients in its health care facilities.
The foundation had launched a national campaign in November to encourage care facilities to adopt family presence policies. The campaign encourages sites, including hospitals to offer visiting privileges around the clock to promote more patient and family-centred care approaches. The policy was drafted on a provincial basis by representatives from health regions on Patient and Family Care Committees (PFCC).
Marga Cugnet, CEO and president for Sun Country Health Region, in speaking about the directive, added that some facilities had placed some informal restrictions on family and friend visits but when the new directive was suggested, most staff members were pretty open to the idea once it was explained just what would be involved. The overall health care plan for hospital patients (for instance) would sometimes dictate a restriction in visiting hours if it was determined that more rest was needed, or if infections were present or respiratory illnesses and flu-like symptoms appeared. Many of those instances would be patient-driven, she suggested.
In a media release issued at the same time as the meeting, Cugnet added, “We agree with the policy and philosophy behind it. Allowing family members unrestricted access to patients and residents allows them to more fully participate in their care and living. We have adopted a policy with that in mind. A foundational step in providing patient-and family-centred care is to recognize the important role families and others play in the health and well-being of patients and residents. In an effort to promote positive health outcomes, safety and security of patients and their families, staff members and our community, SCHR commits to this open visitors/family presence policy,” Cugnet said.
The policy is being introduced to all employees and will be fully implemented in the region within the next few months.
