Now, What Do We Do? Journal Benefits

The guided journal uses a practical approach to assess and plan for the many
requirements of caring for loved ones in the hospital. The workbook helps parents to:

		Organize information
		Follow treatment plans for better outcomes
		Improve communication between patients and providers

As any medical professional dealing with the sensitive nature of a sick child knows,
comforting parents is as important and challenging as caring for their child. The guided
journal series recognizes that when someone is hospitalized, it is extremely stressful
and overwhelming for the loved ones concerned. When parents are emotionally
unavailable, communication with medical professionals becomes especially challenging.
Now, What Do We Do? is a complete guide to help parents cope with and manage their
child's critical medical needs.

The guided journal offers comfort to parents by providing:

		Ideas to ask great questions and receive more informed answers
		A format to help parents understand and review treatment plans
		Space to write down questions, instructions, and advice
		Multiple templates to keep track of actions, contacts, medications, and results
		A tool to create a real-time patient history for their own personal reference
		A central place to store vital information

Improve communication between patients and providers:
The Health Literacy R eport of the Council on Scientific Affairs states:

		"Patients with inadequate health literacy have a complex array of
		communications difficulties, which may interact to influence health outcome."
		"These patients report worse health status and have less understanding about
		their medical conditions and treatment."

The guided journal series provides support for the care-giver to:

		Absorb new information and ask follow-up questions
		Remember the diagnosis and follow the treatment plan
		Effectively communicate to improve treatment outcomes
		Improve each hospitalization experience through increased communication and
		knowledge

Follow treatment plans for better outcomes:
Encourage parents with this positive framework that provides guidance to
care-givers to actively participate in their child's medical care. By keeping a written
record of plans and actions, parents are able to draw from a more creditable source
of information when following up with medical professionals.

Organize information:
The guided journal series introduces project management methods to the critical care
experience which helps to build better coping strategies. Through a compassionate
and thorough approach, care-givers are guided to:

		Record event details
		Consider treatment alternatives
		Create a success vision
		Finalize the treatment specifics
		Follow the treatment plan
		Evaluate release readiness
		Transition to the home environment