Healthcare Social Worker how-to
How to Lead a Family Meeting
Clear meetings help families make decisions.
Quick answer
Clear meetings help families make decisions. In short: prepare; introduce; ask, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Prepare with the medical team.
Introduce everyone.
Ask what the family understands.
Share information clearly.
Discuss goals and options.
Agree on next steps.
Safety reminders for healthcare social workers
- Follow infection control in hospitals
- Use de-escalation with distressed families
- Protect patient privacy under HIPAA
- Use supervision and self-care
Key terms
Discharge planning · Psychosocial assessment · Advance directive · Health care proxy · Palliative care · Hospice: see the full healthcare social worker glossary.