Care Partner Program
What is a Care Partner?
A Care Partner is a person a patient chooses to actively help during and after the patient’s hospital stay. Serving alongside the clinical team, a Care Partner provides social, emotional, and physical care to the patient, when appropriate.
Unless there is a failure to comply with East Alabama Health's defined Care Partner role, the Care Partner's role in care will continue until the patient is discharged.
Ask your medical team about being a Care Partner.
Care Partner Roles
- Follow the instructions of the care team.
- Make health care decisions, on behalf of a patient, through an Advance Directive.
- Be a human connection for companionship to the patient.
- Serve as a primary point of communication for the patient’s family/friends.
- Remain in the patient room (limit movement throughout the facility).
- Provide information relevant to the patient’s care.
- As possible, be present for daily rounds and bedside shift report.
- Assist in discharge education and discharge planning.
- Help maintain patient belongings.
- Help meet daily needs, manage comfort, and assist with personal care, as appropriate.
Safety First
Please discuss the patient's safety status and plan of care every morning and night with your on-coming shift nurse to address patient care needs and safety concerns such as falls prevention, skin integrity, and comfort measures for your loved ones.
Respect Always
East Alabama Health fosters a healing environment for all patients. Behavior that compromises patient or staff safety will not be tolerated. A Care Partner’s privilege can be revoked due to:
- Aggressive behavior and threats
- Inappropriate language
- Physical assault
- Failure to respond to staff instructions
- Any behavior that jeopardizes care or safety of the patient or safety of staff
Contact Us
For more information on becoming a Care Partner at EAMC, please speak to your medical team or contact Service Excellence and Guest Relations at 334-528-1262 or 334-528-4554.
For more information on becoming a Care Partner at EAMC-Lanier, please speak to your medical team or contact 334-710-0005.