Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Our Goal (Background and Objectives) We developed and implemented AB FICare, a model designed to involve parents more actively in caring for their babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This model has already led to shorter hospital stays for babies, reduced parental stress, and cost savings for the healthcare system. Building on this success, we are now expanding AB FICare to support children and adults in other hospital settings. How We're Doing It (Approach) We use a combination of training modules for healthcare providers and structured guidance to implement AB FICare. By collaborating closely with patients, families, healthcare providers, and decision-makers, we are adapting the model for inpatient pediatric and adult intensive care unit (ICU) settings. Additionally, we are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance and refine the model more efficiently. What We've Achieved (Results to Date) For Children in Hospital: We have engaged with patients, parents, and healthcare providers to identify their specific needs and updated the modules accordingly. Currently, we are partnering with the Alberta Children's Hospital to pilot test the revised modules. For Adults in ICUs: We have established connections with researchers, healthcare providers, and decision-makers across Canada interested in implementing AB FICare in adult ICUs. Discussions are underway regarding model implementation, securing funding for pilot testing, and assessing its impact. Key Takeaways (Conclusion) AB FICare demonstrates the power of strong partnerships between researchers and the healthcare system in translating research into tangible healthcare improvements. We anticipate that, similar to its success in NICUs, AB FICare will enable families to play a greater role in the care of their loved ones in pediatric and adult ICUs, resulting in better outcomes for both patients and the healthcare system.