Emergency room culture and the emotional support component of family-centered care

This exploratory study examines the role played by organizational culture i n the emphasis that emergency room staff place on the emotional support com ponent of Family-Centered Care. The study combines qualitative and quantita tive research methods to study differences among 4 emergency room (ER) cult ures. Both methods identify significant differences among ER cultures in th e emphasis placed on providing emotional support to families. In addition, the differences in culture parallel differences in organizational climate t hat affect staff attitudes toward ER work. The findings provide evidence th at ER culture is a key factor in determining emergency health care provider practices and attitudes related to Family-Centered Care.