The following has been sent on behalf of Robyne Maxwell, Executive Director, Quality, Safety and Research
June 11, 2026
This message is a reminder about the new Family Presence Policy, which will soon be communicated to all staff and medical staff across Island Health.
Hospitalizations and interactions within the healthcare environment can be challenging experiences for clients and their loved ones. The Family Presence Policy helps formalize consistent practices for family presence across care areas and acknowledges the important supportive role that families can play in the care experience.
The Family Presence policy outlines:
- Clients define who their family is, recognizing the diversity of relationships and support systems that contribute to their well-being.
- Family presence is welcomed and supported when it contributes to patient care, comfort, and well-being, with consideration for care needs, safety, and clinical context.
- Care teams work with clients and families to support presence in ways that respect client preferences and promote healing.
The policy emphasizes flexibility, inclusion, and cultural safety to honour diverse traditions, beliefs, and practices.
The primary goals of this policy initiative are to integrate, support, and monitor the adoption of family presence practices across Island Health’s patient care settings.
What You Need to Know:
- The Family Presence Policy is now approved and being implemented across Island Health.
- Implementation has been supported through a communication and engagement plan, including staggered memos and virtual Q&A sessions.
- Regional and Local Clinical Governance tables have been informed of the Family Presence Policy and the Office of Experience will provide them with support for implementation.
- All site Directors, managers, unit leaders and support staff have been informed of the Family Presence policy. The Office of Experience will continue to provide information sessions and implementation supports as needed.
- An intranet page with resources has been developed to support operationalizing the policy.
- Patients and families can learn more about including a family member, caregiver, or support person in care and decision-making here: https://www.islandhealth.ca/family-and-caregivers
- The Family Presence policy aligns with Accreditation Canada’s People-Centred Care standards, contributing to improved patient experiences and outcomes.
What You Need to Do:
- Familiarize yourself with the policy and resources available on the intranet to support your teams.
- Incorporate family presence discussions into staff meetings, internal communications, and education sessions.
- Champion a consistent approach to family presence that aligns with the policy while allowing flexibility to meet individual client, family, and team needs.
- Support staff and medical staff in navigating challenges, celebrating successes, and addressing questions related to family presence.
- Identify and share feedback, successes, and challenges related to implementation with the Human Experience Cross Continuum to inform evaluation and continuous improvement.
Please take a moment to complete the Leadership Check In survey by accessing this link:
Family Presence Policy - Leadership Check In
The purpose of this brief survey is to:
- Gather feedback on how prepared you feel to put the Family Presence Policy into practice in your care area; and
- Identify any challenges, barriers, or supports that may impact successful implementation of the policy
If you have any questions or require additional support, please reach out to the Office of Experience at experience@islandhealth.ca
Thank you,
Robyne Maxwell