Marymount College
        PALOS VERDES – SAN PEDRO

Comprehensive Age Planning
Presented by Katherine Campbell, J.D., LLM
March 14, 2013

Developing a Family Communications Policy

Guidelines:

1. The messenger must be able to reach the recipient.
2. The recipient must be available to receive the message- personally available and technologically available.
3. Certain messages should be delivered personally and in real time [face to face, or on the telephone] and are inappropriate to deliver via voicemail, text, email or fax.
4. Certain messages that are delivered via telephone are inappropriate to deliver when the recipient is on the cell phone between classes, running errands, shopping or driving. [example: “ I have some important information- can you please go somewhere where we can talk privately?”]
5. Consider turning off call waiting or using a line without call waiting when delivering sensitive information.
6. Certain information should not be posted on social media.

 
Example: Coordinated Family Communication Using Email
 
Dear Family Members:
At [patient’s] request, and with [patient’s] permission, we are writing to inform you of the following: [Patient] will be having surgery on Monday and Tuesday at [Named Hospital] in Los Angeles [optional: name the surgical procedure or give the reason, use your discretion].
 
We appreciate all your prayers and support. We ask you to limit your communications in order that we can respect the hospital's cell phone policies and devote our full attention to assisting [the patient]. We also ask for your co-operation to respect [patient’s] privacy and to refrain from any internet postings and social media discussions or commentary regarding his or her medical condition.
 
I will do my best to give you an email update on Monday and Tuesday evening Los Angeles time, after I return home. 

​Please direct any questions you may have to ______________________.  Thank you for your understanding and your prayers.

​