Person- and family-Centered Care: A Time for Reflection

In 2007, the Pediatric Perspectives column was launched in AACN Advanced Critical Care. The journey began with an “in the balcony” look at the state of pediatric acute and critical care nursing. Over the years, the column has covered various topics specific to the youngest population of patients. Although exciting interventional and technological advances have been made during this time, has person- and family-centered care (PFCC) implementation moved forward as quickly as other aspects of care? This question became reality as one of the authors of this article exited an interstate ramp only to look up and see billboards, a few blocks from a children\u27s hospital, with statements such as “Children\u27s hospital X does not provide evidence-based visiting hours” and “Children\u27s hospital X does not do family-centered care.” Interestingly, at the bottom of each billboard were references from evidence-based articles to validate the statements. These large reminders of gaps in care remained at the exit ramp for 3 months. It was clear, at least for the patient and family in need of telling their story, that improvements in PFCC are needed. This column reflects upon this challenge