Brain Tumor Program Director Tracy Tidwell, PNP, is the recipient of the Family Partner’s Council’s inaugural Family Choice Award. The award – given to an individual who demonstrates an exemplary dedication to the principles of patient- and family-centered care – was presented to Tracy at the Family Partner’s Council meeting on June 2. All Associates, physicians and families are invited to celebrate Tracy at a reception in her honor on Thursday, June 11, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Lower Lobby.

In her interactions with patients and their families, “Tracy relates as well to the children as she does with their parents,” read her nomination letter. “Parents feel that Tracy is their best advocate. She listens and does whatever she can to help meet their needs.”

Principles of patient- and family-centered care, according to the Family Partner’s Council, include dignity and respect for the patient’s family, candid disclosure of information regarding patient care, family involvement in care planning and delivery and family collaboration with clinicians about policy decisions and staff education.

In her work, Tracy takes these values to heart and practices these principles even under the most difficult circumstances.

“From the moment we stepped foot in the ICU from being life-flighted from Tulsa, Okla., Tracy was there to support us,” said Michelle Perry, mother of brain tumor patient Allyson. “We are so grateful that Tracy has the gift that she does - the gift to be exactly what patients and families need in a time of chaos. She has an amazing ability to calm your worst fears and bring everything into perspective.”

One of Tracy’s many contributions to patient- and family-centered care at Le Bonheur is a new format for reporting in the neuro units between nurses at a patient’s bedside. This improved format ensures that information is shared openly between patients and their caregivers. Thanks to programs that Tracy helped implement, parents are now able to schedule their child’s medications and therapy while at the hospital, giving them greater control of their child’s care.

“I remember asking Tracy at one point how she can do it every day – giving so much of herself to kids and families that are going through so much,” Family Partner’s Council member Zac Ives said. “And she looked at me and said, ‘Zac, how can I not do it?’ And that was really all that needed to be said.”

In a time when patients and their families feel that no one can understand what they are going through, Tracy goes beyond her duties as Brain Tumor Program director. She forms an emotional connection with these patients and families, even contacting them after they leave Le Bonheur to see how they are doing. To Tracy, patient- and family-centered care is of utmost importance, and it’s people like Tracy who help make Le Bonheur what it is.