The Family Conference Victor S. Sierpina, MD Nicholson Professor of Integrative Medicine Associate Professor of Family Medicine UTMB
The Family Conference
Victor S. Sierpina, MDNicholson Professor of Integrative Medicine
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
UTMB
Learning Objectives
Identify the important role of families in clinical decision making
Describe the purposes of a family conference Describe a five phase approach to facilitating
a family meeting
Why a Family Conference?
Families are your allies Families are your expanded information
source Families provide support, direction, action,
influence Families are a reality check on how your
plans are likely to be implemented in the “real world”
Appropriate Times to Convene a Family Conference
During a hospitalization or for discharge planning
Routine obstetrical or well-child care
Announcing a serious illness Terminal illness Making a difficult treatment
decision
Appropriate Times to Convene a Family Conference
High utilization of medical services Mental health or substance abuse problems Somaticization Placement in nursing home, other extended
care facility, or hospice Marital or sexual difficulties
Case Scenario:
Bill is a 63-year-old man admitted following a massive MI. In the ER he is stabilized, intubated and transferred to the ICU. By history he experienced an unknown period of anoxia prior to arrival of the EMTs. On exam he remains unresponsive to deep pain after 3 days. On the third day of hospitalization, Bill's wife Susan, and three children join you for a family conference to discuss his treatment. How do you run a family conference?
Why families are important in end-of-life decision making
The family knows best what the patient would have wanted
The family cares more about the patient’s well-being than anyone else
The patient wanted the family to make this decision and trusted their judgment (+/- a formal durable power of attorney for health care)
The family will live with the consequences of the decision more vividly than anyone else
Process
Why: Clarify conference goals in your own mind
Where: A room with comfort, privacy and circular seating
Who: Patient (if capable of participating); legal decision maker/health care power of attorney; family members; social support; key health care professionals
How:………..
How to Conduct a Family Conference
Establish contact person and attendees Establish rationale Hypotheses and goals for conference, strategy Consider preparing a genogram
When and How to Convene
Involve family members as soon as possible in patient’s care
Notify any available family members when you wish to have a conference and tell them why
Give specific instructions, emphasize importance of conference, acknowledge problems
Phases of the Family Conference
1. Socialize
2. Set the goals
3. Discuss the problem or issue
4. Identify resources
5. Establish a plan
Levels of Intervention
1. Minimal emphasis on family
2. Ongoing medical information and advice
3. Feelings and support
4. Systematic assessment and planned intervention
5. Family therapy
Potential Problems
Patient says family won’t come in Blaming the family Resistance to participation by family
members No show by family Too much attention to certain member Unknown Family Dynamics issues