AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
Dora Hawes cheered loudly as Mayor
Deke Copenhaver thanked Georgia Health Sciences for practicing Patient and
Family Centered Care for 20 years.
The PFCC care principles mean a lot to
Hawes; her son has cerebral palsy and she's had a say in his treatment as a
Patient Advisory Member for GHS.
"For me as a mother to be
involved in his care and make decisions, I really feel good about that,"
said Hawes.
Not only do patients and families have
a say in treatment, but they also help shape the hospital's environment.
Patients and their families helped
design the Children's Medical Center, everything from the playground on the
fourth floor down to the McDonalds in the lobby.
"You don't have to go to a dark
and dreary place to get healthcare, it can be bright and airy and it can
actually be fun," said the PFCC Administrative Director Bernard Roberson.
"Once you have the people that it
involves around the table it makes a difference," said Hawes.
Roberson said it makes a difference
for patients and the hospital, "Our overall discharges increased 15.5%
which is tremendous, but one of the biggest things was medication errors
decreased by 62%."
Roberson says they've also seen
patient stay cut in half and staff retention increase by 7%.
Not to mention the peace of mind
families receive by having a hand in caring for their loved ones.
"We're not doing things for
patients, we're doing things with patients and their families and that's
important," said Roberson.
GHS will continue their PFCC 20th anniversary celebration
the rest of the month.
On Wednesdays
they will have face painting for patients in the pediatric clinic and they will
host a block party Wednesday, October 26.
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