Lessons Learned from Implementing a Designated Care Partner Program in a Community Hospital

Restrictions on family presence during the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the health of patients and their families. Although there was an expressed need for family involvement in care, guidelines for integrating family members as care partners were lacking. To facilitate family members' involvement, the Designated Care Partner (DCP) program was implemented at a community hospital. This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of this program. Findings aim to inform healthcare organizations that are seeking ways to integrate family members as care partners.