Problem: Parents of children diagnosed with cancer face a number of physical, emotional, and social hurdles in the race for a cure. Family schedules shift dramatically to accommodate daily radiation therapy treatment appointments. Ambulatory procedure unit nursing staff attempt to teach and interpret the process without the benefit of a family-centered intradepartmental structured communication process to promote safe care with these families.
Methods: Implementation of a structured family-centered interprofessional standard work model to promote interdepartmental collaboration. The project implemented a structured family-centered interview and standard work algorithms to improve the radiation therapy family experience.
Results: A structured, streamlined, interdepartmental interview, teaching format, and educational resources for nurses to use with families. Standardized work roles were formulated to improve the communication algorithm and collaboration between departments.
Conclusion: The implementation of a nurse-led, standardized work process increased interprofessional collaboration, resulting in increased communication and a family-centered perioperative care model
