Because Stony Brook Children's is always trying to improve the hospital experience for children and their families, in 2007 we started the Children's Services Advisory Board. This unit-based family advocacy board taps into the expertise of parents who have previously had a child hospitalized at Stony Brook. Based on their input, we have made changes to our processes to better accommodate family needs.

For example, parents on the board said they wanted to be more involved in the decision-making process. As a result, we now invite all parents to attend daily rounds with the entire treatment team. They simply need to place a blue card on their child's door, and we will wake them up for 7 a.m. rounds.

One of the key roles of the board is to provide a bridge between the hospital and other parents. Since our board members have already "walked the walk" they can help orient families to the hospital experience or guide them through any challenges or medicinal crises that may arise. If there is a trauma, a board member is typically the first to meet with the family. The board also holds a weekly coffee hour to check in with the families and see if there are any questions they can answer for them.

In collaboration with Child Life Services and the ICU, the Children's Services Advisory Board developed a Bereavement Committee, which helps families of terminally ill children. The committee provides memory bags, die cast molds of the child's hands and feet, locks of hair, special pins, and other mementos, as well as a memory box with letter by staff members reminiscing about their child.

Members from the Children's Services Advisory Board also sit on quality boards and task forces so they can understand how patient care decisions get made and to provide additional input on building patient satisfaction.

CONTACT: Currently, seven families sit on the Children's Services Advisory Board. If you are interested in becoming part of this vital group, please contact (631) 444-7772.