Providing patient-centred care as Medical Radiation Practitioners to children and young persons in out of home care

• Published in: Journal of medical radiation sciences 2023-09, Vol.70 (3), p.345-350
• Main Authors: Denham, Gary, Denham, Sharon Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Children & youth; Commentaries; Communication; Confidentiality; Conflicts of interest; Families & family life; Foster care; Health care; Kinship; Legislation; Medical personnel; Patient-centered care; Physiology; Radiation; Stress response; Tomography; Trauma
• ISSN: 2051-3895; 2051-3909; 2051-3909
• DOI: 10.1002/jmrs.677

Modern healthcare focuses on patient-centred care where patients' needs, beliefs, choices and preferences are valued and lead to better health outcomes. Children and young persons in out of home care (OOHC) require more health care services compared with children from similar social and economic backgrounds. Each state and territory government are responsible for statutory child protection in Australia. If a child is unsafe in their current environment, they may be removed and placed into OOHC where they have ongoing case management with either a government or non-government agency. Complex trauma is the prolonged and uncontrolled exposure to traumatic events, like those experienced by maltreated children. Complex trauma can create a toxic stress response that produces biological alteration to the developing brain and affects the lives of the child, other family members and their descendants. Children with complex trauma often do not have the ability to regulate their responses to stimuli, reacting to minor triggers with disproportionate reactions. Many of these children will present with challenging behaviours. Trauma-informed care is a method of service delivery that seeks to actively minimise re-traumatisation. Creating a safe space is an essential element of trauma-informed care. Children with a history of complex trauma have life experiences that may be re-lived in a healthcare setting. There are ethical and legal considerations like privacy, consent and mandatory reporting when dealing with children in OOHC. By practising trauma-informed care Medical Radiation Practitioners can minimise further trauma to one of the most vulnerable population groups in Australia.