Development of a concept map to convey understanding of patient and family-centered care.

Even though the expression "Patient and Family-Centered Care (PFCC)" is widely used, there remains a lack of clarity regarding how the fundamental tenets of PFCC fit with our current model of healthcare. The purpose of this manuscript was to describe the first step in developing an organizational understanding of the operational construct for PFCC utilizing a concept map and the fundamental concept mapping learning theories. The overall goals were to build a more robust organization-wide understanding of the basic PFCC tenets guided by the philosophy of concept mapping. The long-range aspirations of this process are to improve safety and quality of life by incorporating the PFCC philosophy in the career development path of our students and healthcare professionals.