University of Iowa Children’s Hospital
Proclamation for
Patient- and Family-Centered Care

To Commemorate the UI Children’s Family and Youth Advisory Councils’
10th Anniversary of Making a Difference
We Proclaim To Our
Pediatric Patients and Community These Truths, Which We Hold To Be Self-Evident:

A pediatric patient is child to be cared for, not a medical condition to be treated.

Each pediatric patient is a unique person, with diverse needs.

Each staff member is a caregiver, whose role is to meet the needs of each pediatric patient and their family.

Our pediatric patients are our partners and have knowledge and expertise that is essential to their care.

Our pediatric patients’ family and friends are also our partners and we welcome their involvement.

Access to understandable health information is essential to empower pediatric patients and their families to participate in their care and it is our responsibility to provide access to that information.

The opportunity to make decisions is essential to the well-being of our pediatric patients. It is our responsibility to maximize their opportunities for choices and to respect those choices.

Our pediatric patients’ well-being can be enhanced by an optimal healing environment,
including access to music and the arts, satisfying food, and complementary therapies.

To effectively care for pediatric patients, we must also care for our staff members by supporting them in achieving their highest professional aspirations, as well as their personal goals.

Patient- and family-centered care is the core of a high quality health care system and a necessary foundation for safe, effective, efficient, timely and equitable care.

University of Iowa Children’s Hospital
exists to improve the health and well-being of children
throughout and beyond the state of Iowa.

We are honored to serve you.