First Touch program establishes caring rapport at bedside

St. John’s Hospital is introducing a new program called First Touch, which addresses the initial personal contact caregivers have with patients and their families before beginning clinical or task-oriented activities, such as examinations, medication dispensing or changing of bed linens.

First Touch is a structured program that brings consistency to all interactions with patients and families and is aimed at reducing the anxiety of hospital patients and their family members.

First Touch visits, which start at the beginning of each shift or initial encounter, are relationship-centered and meant to establish a trusting rapport among patients, families and caregivers. While the visits are brief, they maximize the time the caregiver spends with the patient throughout the shift.

Caregivers who have been trained in the First Touch method say the program has helped their nursing unit work together as a team and they are noticing a reduction in the use of call lights by patients.

Among the first groups to implement First Touch at the hospital are Dialysis, Burn Unit, GuestServices, Environmental Services and Food and Nutrition. St. John’s goal is to have all co-workers trained in the First Touch program by March 2008.