부산대학교 도서관

BACKGROUND:: Acute care hospitals provide care for older adults who have complex medical needs and fluctuating caregiving demands. Often oneʼs ability to live independently can be threatened when faced with an acute illness in a hospital setting. It is in this acute care setting that the family meeting is most needed and recommended for treatment planning. AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY:: Meetings are often needed to establish care plans. However, there are challenges to holding family meetings. Some families are unable or unwilling to participate and there may be limited availability of space and time to conduct an adequate family meeting. These can contribute to delays in decision making. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES:: A family meeting is, therefore, a form of therapeutic intervention to be used during a patientʼs hospital stay. This article highlights the importance of family meetings as a means of medical intervention; describing the purpose, challenges, and education on carrying out the intervention. The primary reason for a family meeting is to facilitate communication between the health care team, decision makers, and caregivers. Participants should prepare ahead and a successful family meeting should follow a structured format to help minimize barriers and maximize therapeutic goals, including why the meeting is being called, who will participate, and when/where it will be held. A structured format allows for information to be shared from care provider to patient/family, including diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, and discharge plans and needs. At the end of the meeting, a summary should be provided. CONCLUSIONS:: The population is aging and therefore these meetings need to become more common. The family meeting is an increasingly important component of a patientʼs care plan for those living longer and with complex medical conditions. Family meetings have shown improved outcomes and patient satisfaction, and therefore, should be viewed as a medical intervention.