Family Member User Guide
This guide explains how family members can use CareLog to stay connected with their loved ones' care.
Getting Started
Logging In
- Navigate to CareLog
- Enter your family member account email
- Enter your password
- Click Login
INFO
Your account must be created by a hospital administrator and linked to a patient before you can access any information.
Understanding Family Member Access
What You Can See
As a family member, you have access to:
- Non-sensitive health logs: Daily health updates your loved one chooses to share
- Visit requests: Your requests to visit the patient
- General patient information: Basic status and updates
- Notifications: Updates about your loved one's care
What You Cannot See
For patient privacy, you cannot access:
- Sensitive health logs: Information the patient marks as private
- Complete medical records: Detailed diagnoses and treatment plans
- Medications: Prescription details
- Emergency calls: Direct emergency communications
- Doctor/nurse notes: Clinical observations
TIP
This privacy model ensures patients maintain control over their information while keeping you informed about their wellbeing.
Family Dashboard
Your dashboard shows:
- Linked Patient Summary: Quick overview of your loved one's status
- Recent Notifications: Important updates
- Visit Request Status: Your upcoming and pending visits
- Quick Actions: Request visits, view patient info
Viewing Patient Information
Access information about your linked patient.
Patient Summary
- Navigate to View Patient Summary from the sidebar
- See patient information:
- Basic patient details
- Current health status
- Recent non-sensitive health logs
- General wellbeing indicators
Health Logs
View your loved one's health updates:
- Physical Status: How they're feeling physically
- Emotional Status: Their emotional wellbeing
- Symptoms: Any reported symptoms
- Timestamp: When the log was created
WARNING
Sensitive Logs: If a health log is marked sensitive by the patient, it will be hidden from your view. This is to respect patient privacy for personal health matters.
Understanding the Information
Interpreting Health Logs
- Regular logging: Indicates patient is engaged with their care
- Positive status: Good signs of recovery or stability
- Concerning patterns: May warrant discussion with patient or care team
- Missing logs: Patient may need encouragement to log
What to Watch For
- Changes in physical or emotional status
- New or worsening symptoms
- Improvements in condition
- Overall trends over time
Requesting Visits
Coordinate visits with your hospitalized loved one.
How to Request a Visit
Navigate to Visit Requests from the sidebar
Click Request New Visit
Fill in the request:
- Visit Date: When you'd like to visit
- Visit Time: Preferred time
- Duration: How long you plan to stay
- Purpose/Message: Brief note about the visit
- Attendees: Who will be visiting (optional)
Click Submit Request
Visit Request Process
- Submit: You submit the visit request
- Pending: Awaits patient or staff approval
- Approved: Patient has approved your visit
- Scheduled: Visit is confirmed
- Completed: Visit has taken place
- Denied: Request was not approved
TIP
Approval: Patients typically approve visits. If denied, respect their wishes - they may need rest or privacy.
Managing Visit Requests
- View all your visit requests (past and pending)
- Check approval status
- See scheduled visit details
- Receive notifications about status changes
Visit Guidelines
Before Your Visit
- Confirm approval status
- Check hospital visiting hours
- Note any special instructions
- Bring necessary visitor identification
During Your Visit
- Follow hospital policies
- Respect patient's condition and energy level
- Keep visits positive and supportive
- Allow patient to rest if tired
After Your Visit
- The visit will be marked as completed
- You can request future visits
Staying Connected
Notifications
Receive important updates about your loved one:
Types of Notifications
- Visit request status updates (approved, denied)
- Important care updates (if shared by staff)
- System announcements
- General patient status changes
Managing Notifications
- Click the notification icon
- View unread notifications
- Click to read details
- Mark as read when reviewed
INFO
Notifications help you stay informed without constant checking of the system.
Communication
With Your Loved One
- Coordinate visit times
- Discuss health log sharing preferences
- Respect their privacy choices
- Provide emotional support
With Care Team
While you can see some information, direct medical questions should go through:
- The patient directly
- Hospital administrators
- Designated family liaison (if available)
Family members don't have direct messaging with doctors/nurses in the system
Privacy and Boundaries
Respecting Patient Privacy
Your loved one has control over what you can see:
- They decide if health logs are sensitive
- Sensitive information is hidden from your view
- This protects their privacy and dignity
- Medical staff always have full access for care
Why Sensitive Information is Hidden
Patients may mark information sensitive because:
- Personal or embarrassing health issues
- Mental health concerns they're not ready to share
- Wanting to maintain independence
- Protecting you from worry
- Medical privacy preferences
TIP
Trust and Support: Respect their privacy choices. It helps them maintain dignity and control during a vulnerable time.
Your Role
As a family member, you provide:
- Emotional Support: Encouragement and love
- Presence: Visiting and spending time together
- Advocacy: Supporting their needs (without overstepping)
- Updates: Keeping other family informed (with patient permission)
Multiple Linked Patients
If you're linked to multiple patients (e.g., multiple family members):
Switching Between Patients
- Navigate to the patient selection area
- Choose which patient's information to view
- All views will update to show that patient's information
Organizing Multiple Patients
- Keep track of each patient's visit schedules
- Note different privacy preferences
- Maintain separate visit requests
- Respect each patient's individual needs
Tips for Family Members
Staying Informed
- Check Regularly: Log in daily to see health log updates
- Read Health Logs: Stay aware of how they're feeling
- Monitor Trends: Look for overall improvement or concerns
- Respect Privacy: Accept that some information will be hidden
Supporting Your Loved One
- Be Present: Request regular visits
- Stay Positive: Provide emotional support
- Encourage Logging: Remind them to log their health daily
- Communicate: Ask them directly about their care
- Respect Boundaries: Honor their privacy preferences
Effective Visit Planning
- Plan Ahead: Request visits in advance
- Be Flexible: Understand if visits need to be rescheduled
- Consider Patient Energy: Keep visits appropriate to their condition
- Coordinate: Work with other family members to avoid overwhelming
- Follow Rules: Adhere to hospital visiting policies
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Can't See Patient Information
- Verify you're linked to the patient in the system
- Check with administrator about your account setup
- Ensure patient hasn't changed privacy settings
- Confirm you're logged in with correct account
No Health Logs Visible
- Patient may not have logged recently
- All recent logs might be marked sensitive
- Check date filters
- Encourage patient to log health status
Visit Request Not Appearing
- Refresh the page
- Check that request was submitted successfully
- Verify you filled all required fields
- Look in the correct status category
Notifications Not Working
- Check notification settings
- Refresh the page
- Ensure browser allows notifications
- Contact administrator if issue persists
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why can't I see all of my loved one's health information?
A: Patients have the right to privacy and control over their medical information. They can mark information as sensitive to maintain dignity and independence.
Q: Can I talk directly to doctors or nurses?
A: The system doesn't provide direct messaging between family and medical staff. For medical questions, contact the hospital directly or speak with staff during visits.
Q: What if I'm concerned about what I see in health logs?
A: Discuss concerns with your loved one first. If it's urgent, contact hospital staff directly. For general concerns, mention it during a visit or when speaking with the care team.
Q: Can I add information to my loved one's health logs?
A: No, only patients can create their own health logs. You can encourage them to log regularly, but cannot add information directly.
Q: What if my visit request is denied?
A: Respect the decision. The patient may need rest, privacy, or may not be feeling up to visitors. Try requesting at a different time or communicate with them about preferred visit times.
Q: Can I see appointment schedules?
A: Limited appointment information may be visible, but detailed medical appointments are managed between the patient and medical staff.