Incorporating Patient- and Family-Centered Care Into Resident Education: Approaches, Benefits, and Challenges

Purpose A design conference with participants from accredited programs and institutions was used to explore how the principles of patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) can be implemented in settings where residents learn and participate in care, as well as identify barriers to PFCC and simple strategies for overcoming them. Approach In September 2009, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) held a conference with 74 participants representing a diverse range of educational settings and a group of expert presenters and facilitators. Small group sessions explored the status of PFCC in teaching settings, barriers that need to be overcome in some settings, simple approaches, and the value of a national program and ACGME support. Findings Participants shared information on the state of their PFCC initiatives, as well as barriers to implementing PFCC in the learning environment. These emerged in 6 areas: culture, the physical environment, people, time and other constraints, skills and capabilities, and teaching and assessment, as well as simple strategies to help overcome these barriers. Two Ishikawa (Fishbone) diagrams (one for barriers and one for simple strategies) make it possible to select strategies for overcoming particular barriers. Conclusions A group of participants with a diversity of approaches to incorporating PFCC into the learning environment agreed that respectful communication with patients/families needs to be learned, supported, and continuously demanded of residents. In addition, for PFCC to be sustainable, it has to be a fundamental expectation for resident learning and attainment of competence. Participants concurred that improving the environment for patients concurrently improves the environment for learners.