Integrated health care and prevention in pediatric mental health experience: application of friendly health care attention model

Abstract

The following article presents the experience of Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital in the implementation of the “Child Friendly Healthcare Initiative Model”. The model developed by Child Advocacy International (CAI), in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and the Royal Colleges of Pediatrics and Nursing of the United Kingdom, proposes that the pediatric health care must satisfy the individual needs of the child and his/her family assuming the responsibility of reducing the fear, the anxiety and the unnecessary suffering that takes place during and due to the health care. It proposes 12 standards based on the rights of the child and a methodology of evaluation and constant improvement, allowing a systematic progress monitoring of the installation of friendly practices. This pilot experience is developed with the collective effort of a team of social workers and psychologist of the hospital, which challenge is to promote the humanization of the Health Care.